Dopamine D2-receptor neurons in nucleus accumbens regulate sevoflurane anesthesia in mice

Li Niu; Mengnan Hao; Yanhong Wang; Kai Wu; Chengdong Yuan; Yu Zhang; Jie Zhang; Xiaoli Liang; Yi Zhang

doi:10.3389/fnmol.2023.1287160

Dopamine D2-receptor neurons in nucleus accumbens regulate sevoflurane anesthesia in mice

Front Mol Neurosci. 2023 Nov 28:16:1287160. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1287160. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Li Niu^#^{1

2

3}, Mengnan Hao^#^{1

2

3}, Yanhong Wang^{1

2

3}, Kai Wu^{1

2

3}, Chengdong Yuan^{1

2

3}, Yu Zhang^{2

3

4}, Jie Zhang^{1

2

3}, Xiaoli Liang^{2

4}, Yi Zhang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
² Guizhou Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ Protection, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
³ School of Anesthesiology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: The mechanism of general anesthesia remains elusive. In recent years, numerous investigations have indicated that its mode of action is closely associated with the sleep-wake pathway. As a result, this study aimed to explore the involvement of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) expressing neurons located in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical nucleus governing sleep-wake regulation, in sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: This exploration was carried out using calcium fiber photometry and optogenetics technology, while utilizing cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), loss of righting reflex (LORR), and recovery of righting reflex (RORR) as experimental indicators.

Results: The findings from calcium fiber photometry revealed a decrease in the activity of NAc^D2R neurons during the induction phase of sevoflurane anesthesia, with subsequent recovery observed during the anesthesia's emergence phase. Moreover, the activation of NAc^D2R neurons through optogenetics technology led to a reduction in the anesthesia induction process and an extension of the arousal process in mice. Conversely, the inhibition of these neurons resulted in the opposite effect. Furthermore, the activation of NAc^D2R neurons projecting into the ventral pallidum (VP) via optogenetics demonstrated a shortened induction time for mice under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Discussion: In conclusion, our research outcomes suggest that NAc^D2R neurons play a promotive role in the sevoflurane general anesthesia process in mice, and their activation can reduce the induction time of anesthesia via the ventral pallidum (VP).

Keywords: acceptor; general anesthesia; neural pathway; nucleus accumbens (NAc); sevoflurane.

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Graduate Research Fund of Zunyi Medical University (ZYK145), Science and Technology Fund of Guizhou Provincial Health Commission (gzwkj2023-393), Basic Research Project of the Department of Science and Technology of Guizhou Province (Qiankehe basic ZK [2022] General 649 and [2023] General 528), Science Research Project of Higher Education Institutions of Guizhou Province (Qianjijiao [2022] 225), Qian Ke He Ji Chu-ZK [2022]-Yi Ban 630.