Anesthesia sensitivity in mice that lack the β3 subunit of the γ- aminobutyric acid type A receptor

Abstract

Background: The mammalian γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A) receptor, a likely target of anesthetic action, exhibits remarkable subunit heterogeneity. In vitro expression studies suggest that there is subunit specificity to anesthetic responses at the GABA(A) receptor. The authors tested whether genetically engineered mice that lack the β3 subunit of the GABA(A) receptor differed in their sensitivities to several general anesthetic agents.