Effect of dexmedetomidine on excitability of fast-spiking interneurons in primary somatosensory cortex of mouse brain / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the excitability of fast-spiking interneurons in the primary somatosensory cortex of mouse brain.Methods:Eleven healthy C57BL/6 mice of either sex, at postnatal days 15-21, were used.The acute brain slices of primary somatosensory cortex were prepared and incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid.The whole-cell patch-clamp was established on fast-spiking interneurons and excitatory neurons in primary somatosensory cortex layer 4 separately.The membrane potential and action potential threshold from fast-spiking interneurons and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents from excitatory neurons were recorded before application of dexmedetomidine (10 μmol/L)and at 5 min after application of dexmedetomidine.Results:Compared with that before application of dexmedetomidine, no significant change was found in the membrane potential and action potential threshold of fast-spiking interneurons and frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents at 5 min after application of dexmedetomidine( P>0.05). Conclusion:The analgesic mechanism of dexmedetomidine may not be related to the excitability of fast-spiking interneurons in the primary somatosensory cortex of the mouse brain.