Effect of nitrous oxide on human skeletal muscle function.

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is commonly administered in conjunction with parturition, which requires the performance of repeated high-force voluntary muscle actions. Therefore, we examined the effect of a subanesthetic dose of N2O on the force-velocity relationship of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Nine healthy subjects performed maximal voluntary muscle actions once while breathing air and once while breathing a normoxic gas mixture containing 35% (N2O). Peak torque of the knee extensors was measured during concentric muscle contractions at different angular velocities (30, 60, 90, 150 and 210 degrees s-1), and eccentric (30, 60, 90, and 150 degrees s-1) and isometric (knee-joint angle approximately equal to 60 degrees) muscle actions. Maximal angular velocity was determined during unloaded knee extensions. N2O decreased peak torque at any given angular velocity. The overall decrease in peak averaged 4.8 +/- 2.2% (P < 0.0001). Likewise, N2O decreased maximal angular velocity by 5.7 +/- 4.3% (P < 0.01). Thus, the impairment in muscle function induced by a 35% N2O is only minute and hence most likely of little significance in clinical practice.