Dexmedetomidine-induced stimulation of glutamine oxidation in astrocytes: A possible mechanism for its neuroprotective activity

Dexmedetomidine is a highly specific alpha(2)-adrenergic agonist, which is used clinically as an anesthetic adjuvant and in animal experiments has a n europrotective effect during ischemia. The current study showed that dexmed etomidine enhances glutamine disposal by oxidative metabolism in astrocytes . This effect occurs at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. It is ex erted on alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors and not on imidazoline-preferring si tes, and it is large enough to reduce the availability of glutamine as a pr ecursor of neurotoxic glutamate.