<\/span><\/h2>\nBalestra’s study presents more evidence that the Lipid Solubility Theory is insufficient in explaining inert gas narcosis.<\/p>\n
The Lipid Solubility Theory suggests that narcosis (anaesthesia) occurs when the volume of a hydrophobic membrane site in the brain is caused to expand beyond a critical level by the absorption of narcotic gas molecules at higher partial pressures.<\/p>\n
The results of this experiment support more recent theories, which suggest that nitrogen narcosis stems from a biophysical interaction between inert gas partial pressure and brain cellular metabolism. This is known as the Protein Binding Theory.<\/p>\n
The Protein Binding Theory suggests that nitrogen narcosis (anaesthesia) arises from the influence of a narcotic gas on the production, release and uptake of several brain neurotransmitters. In prior experiments on rats, it has been demonstrated that increased nitrogen partial pressure caused a decrease in dopamine release, reduced glutamate concentration and also enhanced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors activity.<\/p>\n