Sex, drugs, and anaesthesia research

In this issue of the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Joksimovic and colleagues report significant sex differences in sensitivity to the behavioural and neurophysiological effects of 3 beta-OH, a novel neurosteroid anesthetic. Female rats were more sensitive to the effects of 3 beta-OH than male rats, although the mechanims remain unclear. Sex differences have been understudied in anaesthesia research, and this article by Joksimovic and colleagues emphasizes the need to devote more effort to understanding these differences.

Automated summary

The study highlights significant sex differences in sensitivity to a novel neurosteroid anesthetic, with female rats being more sensitive than male rats. This underscores the importance of sex differences in anesthesia research and the need for more efforts to understand these disparities.