Figure 1.

Dexmedetomidine: chemical formula and mode of action.

(a) Chemical formula of dexmedetomidine (4-[(1S)-1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1 H-imidazole). (b) Upon ligation to α2-adrenoceptor, a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), dexmedetomidine (DEX) provokes a conformational change from the GDP-bound to the GTP-bound state, inducing the efflux of potassium and a hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane. Membrane hyperpolarization in turn inhibits the gating of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels, blocking the release of neurotransmitters. Created with https://www.BioRender.com