title: Propofol induces growth cone collapse and neurite retractions in chick explant culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Propofol neurotoxicity has been demonstrated in several cell culture systems. This study was undertaken to determine whether propofol has neurotoxic effects on peripheral, retinal, and autonomic neurons, and which neurons are particularly liable to injury by propofol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dorsal root ganglia, retinal ganglion cell layers, and sympathetic ganglion chains were isolated from day eight chick embryos and cultured for 20 hr. Thereafter, propofol was added at various concentrations [5-300 microM (0.9-53 microg x mL(-1))] to investigate its effects on these three types of neuronal tissue. Morphological changes were examined quantitatively by growth cone collapse assay. Propofol concentrations were measured using high performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propofol induced growth cone collapse and neurite destruction. The three types of neurons tested exhibited significantly different dose-response relationships two hours after the application of propofol (P < 0.001) but not at 24 hr after application. The growth cone-collapsing effect was at least partially reversible in all three types of neurons after exposure to 100 microM propofol up to six hours, though reversibility was not observed after 24-hr exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While the clinical safety profile of propofol has been well documented, at high concentrations propofol has potential neurotoxicity on growing neurons in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi-city, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Wael S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Al-Jahdari
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003470:Culture Media; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D015742:Propofol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003470:Culture Media; D009498:Neurotoxins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D015742:Propofol