Hormonal basis of sex differences in anesthetic sensitivity.

ABSTRACT: General anesthesia-a pharmacologically induced reversible state of unconsciousness-enables millions of life-saving procedures. Anesthetics induce unconsciousness in part by impinging upon sexually dimorphic and hormonally sensitive hypothalamic circuits regulating sleep and wakefulness. Thus, we hypothesized that anesthetic sensitivity should be sex-dependent and modulated by sex hormones. Using distinct behavioral measures, we show that at identical brain anesthetic concentrations, female mice are more resistant to volatile anesthetics than males. Anesthetic sensitivity is bidirectionally modulated by testosterone. Castration increases anesthetic resistance. Conversely, testosterone administration acutely increases anesthetic sensitivity. Conversion of testosterone to estradiol by aromata

SUBMITTER: Wasilczuk AZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10801881 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature