Inhibitory Effects of Thiopental, Ketamine, and Propofol on Voltage-dependent Calcium sup 2+ Channels in Porcine Tracheal Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract
Background: Intravenously administered anesthetics directly inhibit airway smooth muscle contraction. Because many anesthetic agents affect membrane ion channel function and sustained contraction of airway smooth muscle requires the influx of Calcium2+ through voltage-dependent Calcium2+ channels, it was hypothesized that intravenous anesthetics inhibit airway smooth muscle voltage-dependent Calcium2+ channels.