Figure 3
The effect of anaesthetics on hearing and auditory processing. (a) Acoustic stimulation elicits postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) in the Mauthner neuron, whose delay and amplitude provide an easy way to examine the effect of anaesthetics on hearing and auditory processing. (b,c) 2-PE and Aqui-S had no effect on delay and amplitude of the acoustically induced PSPs. However, MS-222 and benzocaine, when applied at concentrations above the surgical level of 60 mg L−1, significantly reduced the amplitude of acoustically induced PSPs. MS-222 and Aqui-S: N = 5 each; 2-PE and benzocaine: N = 3 each. * indicates P < 0.05. Significant differences between groups indicated by horizontal lines. The respective anaesthetic concentration needed for achieving surgical anaesthesia is indicated in the graphs of (b) by an arrowhead. (d) Representative examples of PSPs measured in the same animal under anaesthesia with the lowest (coloured PSP) and the highest concentration (grey PSP) used.
