Excitatory actions of propofol and ketamine in the snail Lymnaea stagnalis

Abstract

This study compares the actions of the intravenous anaesthetics propofol and ketamine on animal behaviour and neuronal activity in the snail Lymnaea stagnalis, particularly in relation to excitatory effects observed clinically. When injected into the whole animal, neither agent induced total anaesthesia. Rather, behavioural activity was enhanced by propofol (10⁻⁵ M) and ketamine (10⁻⁷ M), indicating excitatory effects. When superfused over the isolated central nervous system (CNS), differential effects were produced in two identified neurons, right pedal dorsal 1 (RPeD1) and visceral dorsal 4 (VD4). Resting membrane properties were largely unaffected. However, spike after hyperpolarisation was significantly reduced in RPeD1, but not VD4, with some evidence of increased excitability. In addition, an intrinsic bursting property (post-stimulus burst) in VD4 was altered by propofol (10⁻⁷ M). The results suggest significant excitatory components in the actions of some intravenous anaesthetics, as well as a potential role in modifying excitation and bursting mechanisms in the CNS.