title: Subanesthetic doses of propofol induce neuroapoptosis in the infant mouse brain.
abstract: Drugs that block N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors or that promote gamma-aminobutyric acid type A inhibition trigger neuroapoptosis in the developing rodent brain. Propofol reportedly interacts with both gamma-aminobutyric acid type A and N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptors, but has not been adequately evaluated for its ability to induce developmental neuroapoptosis. Here we determined that the intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of propofol required to induce a surgical plane of anesthesia in the infant mouse is 200 mg/kg. We then administered graduated doses of propofol (25-300 mg/kg i.p.) and found that doses >or=50 mg/kg induce a significant neuroapoptosis response. We conclude that propofol induces neuroapoptosis at 1/4 the dose required for surgical anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid, PO BOX 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cattano
authors.forename: Chainllie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Megan M W
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Straiko
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Olney
mesh_terms: D018681:Anesthetics, General / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003243:Consciousness / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018681:Anesthetics, General; D015742:Propofol