Nitrous oxide biological effects

Nitrous oxide, N2O, is commonly used as a mild dental anesthetic and propellant for aerosols on atmospheric decomposition, it yields its innocuous parent gases and is therefore an environmentally acceptable substitute for chlorofluorocarbons. On the other hand, N2O contributes to the greenhouse effect and is increasing in the atmosphere. Nitric oxide, NO, is an effective coordinating ligand its function in this context is discussed in Chapter 13. It also has many biological functions, discussed in Chapter 16. 

The first hint that a physical property of a drug could be related to biological activity appeared almost 100 years ago when scientists recognized that chloroform (CHCI3), diethyl ether, cyclopropane, and nitrous oxide (N2O) were all useful general anesthetics. Clearly, the chemical stmctures of these diverse compounds could not account for their similar pharmacological effects. Instead, some physical property must explain the similarity of their biological activities. 

---