Research studies at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine have revealed that stopping the NMDA receptor of young rats causes great damage to the brain and disrupts the hearing function as the rats mature.
The NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor is triggered when brain cells release a chemical called glutamate. This leads to the entry of calcium into the brain, which can later have a great effect on its important functions. As the receptor is blocked, the entry of calcium is then prevented, leading to the deterioration of certain brain functions.
In medicine, some anaesthetics used for medical procedures in humans work by blocking the NMDA receptor; thus, raising speculations as to the side effects of these drugs when induced in children.
"While research in animals does not always apply to humans, our work with rats supports clinical studies by other groups that suggest learning deficits may occur in young children who have been exposed to general anaesthesia”, stated Christopher P. Turner, Ph.D., an Anatomy and Neurobiology assistant professor.
"Over the past decade, we've identified and defined the injuries taking place in young rodent brains, understood the molecular changes that are occurring because of those injuries, and now we understand how those injuries may influence the behaviour of laboratory animals that have been exposed to drugs that block the NMDA receptor”, he added.
They have considered the possible effects of anaesthetics in children after observing that MK801, which functions the same way as anaesthetics, can cause rapid brain injury on immature rodents.
The NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor is triggered when brain cells release a chemical called glutamate. This leads to the entry of calcium into the brain, which can later have a great effect on its important functions. As the receptor is blocked, the entry of calcium is then prevented, leading to the deterioration of certain brain functions.
In medicine, some anaesthetics used for medical procedures in humans work by blocking the NMDA receptor; thus, raising speculations as to the side effects of these drugs when induced in children.
"While research in animals does not always apply to humans, our work with rats supports clinical studies by other groups that suggest learning deficits may occur in young children who have been exposed to general anaesthesia”, stated Christopher P. Turner, Ph.D., an Anatomy and Neurobiology assistant professor.
"Over the past decade, we've identified and defined the injuries taking place in young rodent brains, understood the molecular changes that are occurring because of those injuries, and now we understand how those injuries may influence the behaviour of laboratory animals that have been exposed to drugs that block the NMDA receptor”, he added.
They have considered the possible effects of anaesthetics in children after observing that MK801, which functions the same way as anaesthetics, can cause rapid brain injury on immature rodents.
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