EFFECT OF THIOPENTONE, ETOMIDATE AND PROPOFOL ON CAROTID BODY CHEMORECEPTOR ACTIVITY IN THE RABBIT AND THE CAT

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Abstract
The response of the carotid body chemoreceptors to intracarotid administration of thiopentone, etomidate and propofol was tested in the rabbit and cat. Thiopentone 3–6 mg min−1 and etomidate 300–600 µg min−1 were mildly excitatory, shifting the oxygen and carbon dioxide response curves upwards. Propofol 1.5–3.0 mg min−1 was a potent chemodepressant and abolished discharge at PaO2 values greater than 8 kPa. Prolonged infusion of propofol at higher rates (6 mg min−1) abolished the response to hypoxia completely. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the known ventilatory effects of the three anaesthetics.

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