Open AccessIntrathecal anaesthesia alters intracellular Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ homeostasis in the spinal cord neurones of experimental rats
Author(s) -
Bahar M.,
Berman S.,
Chanimov M.,
Weissgarten J.,
Averbukh Z.,
Cohen M. L.,
Grinshpon Y.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european journal of anaesthesiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2346
pISSN - 0265-0215
DOI - 10.1046/j.0265-0215.2000.00808.x
Subject(s) - spinal cord , medicine , lidocaine , saline , anesthesia , intracellular , lumbar spinal cord , lumbar , homeostasis , intrathecal , pharmacology , endocrinology , chemistry , anatomy , biochemistry , psychiatry
Summary Background and objective The effect of anaesthesia induced by intrathecal injection of 6.3% MgSO 4 or 4% lidocaine on intracellular electrolyte homeostasis in spinal cord neurones of a rat model was investigated. Methods Intracellular Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + and K + concentrations were determined at different times after intrathecal administration of NaCl (saline, a control group), MgSO 4 or lidocaine. Results In both thoracic and lumbar spinal cord segments, Ca 2+ concentrations rose significantly 30 min and 2 h after 6.3% MgSO 4 injection, and after 24 h were still significantly increased compared with the values obtained from the control group which were subjected to sham ‘anaesthesia’ by saline injection (172, 121 and 108 ng mg −1 protein vs. control 23 ng mg −1 protein, respectively, in the thoracic segment and 222, 229 and 176 ng mg −1 protein vs. control 43 ng mg −1 protein, respectively, in the lumbar segment). Lidocaine injection also produced a significant increase in intracellular Ca 2+ in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord segments (69, 64 and 53 ng mg −1 protein vs. control 33.4 ng mg −1 protein and 26, 94 and 46 ng mg −1 protein vs. 23 ng mg −1 protein respectively). Only a modest rise in intracellular Mg 2+ was observed after intrathecal MgSO 4 or lidocaine injection (27 ng mg −1 protein vs. 23 ng mg −1 protein). Na + and K + concentrations decreased 24 h after MgSO 4 and 1 h after lidocaine injection. Conclusion Intrathecal anaesthesia by MgSO 4 or lidocaine alters intracellular electrolyte homeostasis in spinal cord neurones of experimental rats. A possible common mechanism of action via Ca 2+ ion channels is discussed.