Korean J Anesthesiol.  2008 Nov;55(5):607-612. 10.4097/kjae.2008.55.5.607.

The effects of propofol on neurotoxicity induced by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid in rat mixed cortical cultures

• Seo MS
• Park SY
• Kim KS
• Moon BK
• Kim JS
• Lee SY

• KMID: 2243003
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2008.55.5.607

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pattern of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-mediated neurotoxicity (necrosis vs apoptosis) and the neuroprotective effect of propofol on AMPA-mediated neurotoxicity are still unclear.
METHODS
Thirteen-day-old primary rat mixed cortical cultures were used. To measure the neuroprotective effect of propofol, AMPA (50micrometer), AMPA (50micrometer) plus propofol (0.1, 1, 25, 50micrometer), AMPA (50micrometer) plus DMSO, propofol (50micrometer) and DMSO were administered (n = 45). Seventy-two h later, surviving cells were counted using trypan blue staining and were converted to cell death rate (CDR). To measure the effect of propofol (50micrometer) on AMPA (50micrometer)-induced apoptosis, a triple stain was done. In a fixed field (x400), the number of neuronal cells stained by neuronal nuclei (NeuN) and Hoechst staining and apoptotic cells stained by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) assays were counted. Apoptotic cell rates (ACR) were also calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using one way-analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni's test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
AMPA (50micrometer) stimulation demonstrated 49.3% CDR, and adding propofol 50micrometer decreased CDR to 29.4% (P < 0.05). In the TUNEL assay, cells with no drug treatment demonstrated 12.3% ACR and 50micrometer AMPA increased ACR to 28% (P < 0.05). Adding 50micrometer propofol to AMPA decreased the ACR to 20.1% (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Propofol (50micrometer) had neuroprotective effects against AMPA (50micrometer)-induced cell death by reducing apoptosis.

Keyword

alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid; apoptosis; propofol

MeSH Terms

alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid
Animals
Apoptosis
Cell Death
Deoxycytidine
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Diminazene
DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Neurons
Neuroprotective Agents
Propofol
Rats
Trypan Blue
DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase
Deoxycytidine
Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Diminazene
Neuroprotective Agents
Propofol
Trypan Blue
alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid