Update in Neuroprotective Effects of Dexmedetomidine

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α2adrenoreceptor agonist,which exhibits a wide range of effects,including sedation,analgesia,antianxiety and sympatholytic properties. As an anaesthetic adjuvant,it is widely used in operative processes and ICU sedation. Recently,in a good deal of animal experiments,dexmedetomidine has been demonstrated that it has neuroprotective effects,such as the function of adjusting cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen supply. It may be related to attenuating sympathetic activation,dropping heart rate,increasing oxygen supply while decreasing the consumption,so that it can keep the myocardial oxygen balance complications. In addition,by the binding of dexmedetomidine and α2A subtype receptor,the neuroprotective effects might be related with receding the excitatory toxicity of glutamate. On the other hand,it can attenuate catecholamine release,improve the blood perfusion of ischemia area,and adjust the apoptosis of neuron cells,etc. In the mean time,dexmedetomidine may be involved in the other adjusting of cell function. In conclusion,the exact mechanisms of its neuroprotective effects are still unclear,and are confined to the animal experiments. Future clinical research need to aim at investigating the molecular and genetic mechanisms of its cardioprotective effects.