Effects of isoflurane and enflurane on GABAA and glycine receptors contribute equally to depressant actions on spinal ventral horn neurones in rats

These results demonstrate that the effects of isoflurane and enflurane on GABAA and glycine receptors contribute almost equally to their depressant actions on spinal ventral horn neurones in rats. The fraction of inhibition mediated by both receptor systems differs between specific volatile anaesthetics. Our data argue against the theory that a dominant molecular mechanism accounts for spinal effects of volatile anaesthetics.