Dexmedetomidine Reduces the Lidocaine-Induced Neurotoxicity by Inhibiting Inflammasome Activation and Reducing Pyroptosis in Rats

Local anesthetic toxicity is closely related to neuronal death and activation of the inflammatory response. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is an adrenergic α2 receptor agonist that can reduce the neurotoxicity induced by lidocaine. It also has anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of Dex against lidocaine-induced toxicity remains to be defined. We hypothesized that Dex exerts its neural protective effect...