BackgroundIn cultured slice preparations of rat neocortical tissue, clinically relevant concentrations of volatile anesthetics mainly decreased action potential firing of neurons by enhancing [Greek small letter gamma]‐aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor‐mediated synaptic inhibition. The author's aim was to determine if other anesthetic agents are similarly effective in this model system and act via the same molecular mechanism.MethodsThe actions of various general anesthetics on the firing patterns of neocortical neurons were investigated by extracellular single‐unit recordings.ResultsPentobarbital, propofol, ketamine, and ethanol inhibited spontaneous action potential firing in a concentration‐dependent manner. The estimated median effective concentration (EC50) values were close to or below the EC50values for general anesthesia. Bath application of the GABAAantagonist bicuculline (100 [micro sign]M) decreased the effectiveness of propofol, ethanol, halothane, isoflurane, enflurane, and diazepam by more than 90%, indicating that these agents acted predominantly via the GABAAreceptor. The depressant effects of pentobarbital and ketamine were not significantly reduced by bicuculline treatment. Drugs acting mainly via the GABAAreceptor altered the firing patterns of neocortical cells in different manners. Diazepam reduced the discharge rates by decreasing the number of action potentials per burst, leaving the burst rate unaffected. In contrast, muscimol, GABA, propofol, and volatile anesthetics decreased the burst rate.ConclusionsAlthough several anesthetic agents acted nearly exclusively via the GABAAreceptor, they changed the discharge patterns of cortical neurons in different ways. This finding is explained by GABA‐mimetic or benzodiazepine‐like molecular interactions.