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Review
. 2020 Dec 17;25(24):5974.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25245974.

Cholinergic Chemotransmission and Anesthetic Drug Effects at the Carotid Bodies

Maarten Honing  1 , Chris Martini  1 , Monique van Velzen  1 , Marieke Niesters  1 , Albert Dahan  1 , Martijn Boon  1
Affiliations
Review

Cholinergic Chemotransmission and Anesthetic Drug Effects at the Carotid Bodies

Maarten Honing et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

General anesthesia is obtained by administration of potent hypnotics, analgesics and muscle relaxants. Apart from their intended effects (loss of consciousness, pain relief and muscle relaxation), these agents profoundly affect the control of breathing, in part by an effect within the peripheral chemoreflex loop that originates at the carotid bodies. This review assesses the role of cholinergic chemotransmission in the peripheral chemoreflex loop and the mechanisms through which muscle relaxants and hypnotics interfere with peripheral chemosensitivity. Additionally, consequences for clinical practice are discussed.

Keywords: anesthesia; cholinergic transmission; muscle relaxants; peripheral chemosensitivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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