# O-GlcNAcylation levels remain stable regardless of the anaesthesia in healthy rats

## TL;DR

This study shows that O-GlcNAcylation levels in healthy rats remain stable during different types of anesthesia and are not affected by a drug meant to increase them.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the stability of O-GlcNAcylation and its enzymes during anesthesia in healthy rats.

## Key findings

- O-GlcNAcylation levels in heart, brain, and lungs were not affected by anesthesia.
- NButGT did not alter O-GlcNAcylation levels or physiological parameters in anaesthetized rats.
- Isoflurane had less impact on blood pressure, heart rate, and glycaemia compared to ketamine-xylazine.

## Abstract

Anaesthetics are used daily in human and veterinary medicine as well as in scientific research. Anaesthetics have an impact on cell homeostasis especially through modulation of protein post-translational modifications. O-GlcNAcylation, a ubiquitous post-translational modification, plays a role in many biological processes. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether (1) anaesthesia influences O-GlcNAcylation and (2) its stimulation affects physiological parameters. Male Wistar rats (n = 38) were anaesthetized with ketamine-xylazine or isoflurane. They randomly received either an intravenous injection of Ringer's lactate or NButGT (10mg/kg) in order to increase O-GlcNAcylation levels. One hour after induction of anaesthesia, haemodynamic parameters and plasmatic markers were evaluated. Heart, brain and lungs were harvested and O-GlcNAcylation levels and O-GlcNAc-related enzymes were evaluated by western blot. Cardiac and pulmonary O-GlcNAcylation levels and cardiac, cerebral and pulmonary O-GlcNAc associated enzyme expression were not impacted with anaesthesia. Compared with ketamine-xylazine, isoflurane had a lower impact on blood pressure, heart rate and glycaemia. Pharmacological stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation by NButGT did not affect the physiological parameters. This study offers unprecedented insights into the regulation of O-GlcNAcylation and O-GlcNAc related enzymes during anaesthesia. Pharmacological stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation over a 1-h period did not disrupt the physiological balance in healthy anaesthetized rats.