Comparative Brain-Wide Mapping of Isoflurane and Ketamine-Activated Nuclei and Functional Networks

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.88420.3
• Publication Date: 2024-01-10T16:25:14Z
• Authors: Yue Hu; Jiangtao Qi; Zhao Zhang; Mengqiang luo; Yingwei Wang
• Keywords: Locus coeruleus; Infralimbic cortex; Lateral parabrachial nucleus

Ketamine (KET) and isoflurane (ISO) are two widely used general anesthetics, yet their distinct shared neurophysiological mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of KET ISO effects on c-Fos expression across the brain, utilizing hierarchical clustering c-Fos-based functional network to evaluate responses individual brain regions each anesthetic. Our findings demonstrate that significantly activates cortical subcortical arousal-promoting nuclei, with temporal association areas (TEa) serving as hub node, corroborating top-down anesthesia theory for dissociative anesthesia. contrast, nuclei in hypothalamus brainstem, locus coeruleus (LC) implying bottom-up mechanism anesthetic-induced unconsciousness. Notably, coactivation arousal-related analgesia-related, neuroendocrine-related (e.g., prelimbic area (PL) infralimbic (ILA), anterior paraventricular nucleus (aPVT), Edinger-Westphal (EW), (LC), parabrachial (PB), solitary tract (NTS) by both anesthetics underscores features such unconsciousness, analgesia, autonomic regulation, irrespective specific molecular targets. conclusion, our results emphasize actions while also uncovering commonly activated regions, thus contributing advancement understanding underlying