title: The effect of propofol anaesthesia on free radical-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes.
abstract: In order to assess the in vivo significance of the free radical scavenging properties of propofol the effect of propofol anaesthesia on the sensitivity of rat liver microsomes to radical-induced lipid peroxidation has been examined. Microsome peroxidation was initiated with a combination of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and ferric ions, and assessed by measuring the changes in oxygen tension in the microsome suspension. In comparison to animals receiving 10% intralipid, saline or midazolam, microsomes prepared from animals anaesthetized with propofol demonstrated a significantly increased resistance to lipid peroxidation. Thus, the median delay in onset of the maximum rate of oxygen consumption in animals receiving a bolus of propofol was 23.1 min (range 14.4-32.3), in comparison to delays in the animals receiving intralipid, saline or midazolam of 1.9 (0.5-4.1), 2.4 (2.0-3.7) and 3.0 (1.8-6.1) min respectively (P < 0.01 in each case, Mann Whitney U-test). More prolonged anaesthesia with either repeated boluses or an infusion of propofol also delayed the onset of lipid peroxidation (45.6 (27.2-60) and 18.3 (9.2-60) min respectively). We conclude that the free radical scavenging properties of propofol are biologically significant at anaesthetic doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000818:Animals; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D015742:Propofol