Do brain stem opioidergic and GABAergic neurons mediate the antinociceptive effect of nitrous oxide in Fischer rats?
These results support the hypothesis that both opioidergic and GABAergic neurons mediate the antinociceptive effect of N2O at the periaqueductal gray area and A7 in the brain stem. The authors postulate that N2O-induced opioid peptide release leads to inhibition of GABAergic neurons via opioid receptors. The descending noradrenergic inhibitory pathways, which are tonically inhibited by these gamma-aminobutyric acid neurons, are thereby activated (disinhibited) and modulate pain processing in the spinal cord.
Parenteral glutamine supplement in LBW infants was associated with lower whole-body protein breakdown. Because the decrease in whole body proteolysis is associated with protein accretion, parenteral glutamine supplement may be beneficial in selected populations of LBW infants.