Anesthetic-sensitive 2P domain K+ channels

Abstract

Volatile anesthetic-mediated hyperpolarization reduces excitability, increases synaptic input conductance, and may contribute to the depression of the central nervous system, whereas local anesthetic-mediated depolarization may enhance the conduction block of peripheral nerves. Background K+ channels, which are encoded by the newly discovered family of 2P domain K+ channel subunits, are the targets of volatile as well as local anesthetics.