Propofol induces growth cone collapse and neurite retractions in chick explant culture.
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.
Al-Jahdari
Wael S
WS
Department of Anesthesiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi-city, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
Saito
Shigeru
S
Nakano
Takashi
T
Goto
Fumio
F
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
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003470:Culture Media; D009498:Neurotoxins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D015742:Propofol