Table 3.

Proposed roles of β3-containing GABA_A receptors in the actions of the general anesthetics etomidate, propofol and isoflurane

	Etomidate	Propofol	Isoflurane
Immobility	+++9	+++9	+12
Hypnosis	++9,11	++9	+12
Respiratory depression	+++10	+++10	n.d.
Sedation	---11	n.d.	n.d.
Anterograde amnesia	n.d.	---	n.d.
Hypothermia	+10	---10	+
Heart rate depression	+10	---10	+
ECG changes	---	---	---

+++ designates complete mediation of this action by β3-containing GABA_A receptors. ++ designates partial mediation (approximately 50%), + designates a small but significant contribution of β3-containing GABA_A receptors. --- designates no mediation at all or a very minor contribution through β3-containing GABA_A receptors. n.d. not determined. Data which were taken from the literature are marked with superscripts, which refer to this paper's reference list. Heart rate depression might be secondary to hypothermia.