Mechanisms underlying greater sensitivity of neonatal cardiac muscle to volatile anesthetics

Background: In neonatal heart, plasma membrane Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) and Ca2+ influx channels play greater roles in intracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+](i) regulation compared with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In neonatal (aged 0-3 days) and adult (aged 84 days) rat cardiac myocytes, we determined the mechanisms underlying greater sensitivity of the neonatal myocardium to inhibition by volatile anesthetics. Methods. The effects of 1 and 2 minimum alveolar concentration halothane and sevoflurane on Ca2+ influx during electrical stimulation in the presence or blockade of NCX and the Ca2+ channel agonist BayK8644 were examined. [Ca2+](i) responses to caffeine were used to examine anesthetic effects on SR Ca2+ release (via ryanodine receptor channels) and reuptake (via SR Ca2+ adenosine triphosphatase). Ca2+ influx via NCX was examined during rapid activation in the presence of the reversible SR Ca2+ adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid and ryanodine to inhibit the SR. Efflux mode NCX was examined during activation by extracellular Na+ in the absence of SR reuptake. Results: Intracellular Ca2+ concentration transients during electrical stimulation were Inhibited to a greater extent m neonates by halothane (80%) and sevoflurane (50%). Potentiation of [Ca2+](i) responses by BayK8644 (160 and 120% control in neonates and adults, respectively) was also blunted by anesthetics to a greater extent in neonates. [Ca2+](i) responses to caffeine in neonates (similar to30% adult responses) were inhibited to a lesser extent compared with adults (35 vs. 60% by halothane). Both anesthetics inhibited Ca2+ reuptake at 2 minimum alveolar concentration, again to a greater extent in adults. Reduction in NCX-mediated influx was more pronounced in neonates (90%) compared with adults (65%) but was comparable between anesthetics. Both anesthetics also reduced NCX-mediated efflux to a greater extent in neonates. Potentiation of NCX-mediated Ca2+ efflux by extracellular Na+ and NCX-mediated Ca2+ influx by intracellular Na+ were both prevented by halothane, especially in neonates. Conclusions. These data indicate that greater myocardial depression in neonates induced by volatile anesthetics may be mediated by Inhibition of NCX and Ca2+ influx channels rather than inhibition of SR Ca2+ release.