CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by MILNE, B.
Right arrow Articles by JHAMANDAS, K. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by MILNE, B.
Right arrow Articles by JHAMANDAS, K. H.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 28, 46-50, Copyright © 1981 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Physical Dependence on Nitrous Oxide in Mice: Resemblance to Alcohol but Not to Opiate Withdrawal

BRIAN MILNE 1, FRANK W. CERVENKO 1, and KHEM H. JHAMANDAS 2

1 Department of Anaesthesia, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Pharmacology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. F. Cervenko, Department of Anaesthesia, Queen's University, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 2V7.

Mice of two strains, Crl:CD-l(lCR)Br and C57BL6, were exposed to nitrous oxide at concentrations of 50, 65 and 80 per cent for 34 or 68 hours. Cessation of nitrous oxide resulted in characteristic convulsions similar to those seen in alcohol withdrawal in all mice. These peaked in severity within 2-3 minutes after removal from nitrous oxide and declined over 6 hours. The severity and duration of these convulsions were related to the nitrous oxide concentration and duration of exposure. Naloxone or naltrexone produced no significant increase in severity of convulsions. The narcotic antagonists did not precipitate acute weight loss or characteristic jumping behaviour seen in animals dependent on opiates. These results demonstrate that chronic exposure to nitrous oxide results in development of physical dependence which resembles alcohol and not opiate dependence. Analgesia and physical dependence produced by nitrous oxide appear to be mediated through separate mechanisms.

Key Words: ANAESTHESIA: Dependence, Nitrous Oxide, Mice • CONVULSIONS, Alcohol, Naloxone, Naltrexone






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1981 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.