title: An in vitro study of the neuroprotective effect of propofol on hypoxic hippocampal slice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether propofol has a neuroprotective effect on hypoxic brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hippocampal slice, in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ASCF) with glucose and oxygen deprivation (OGD), was used as an in vitro model for brain hypoxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The orthodromic population spike (OPS) and hypoxic injury potentia1 (HIP) were recorded in the CA1 region when Schaffer collateral was stimulated in the CA3 region of the hippocampal slices during hypoxia. The concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters in perfusion solution of hippocampal slices were directly measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Morphological changes of neurons, astrocytes and mitochondria in CA1 region were observed using histology and electron microscopy. Neuronal apoptosis was evaluated with TUNEL assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propofol treatment delayed the elimination of OPS and improved the recovery of OPS; decreased frequency of HIP, postponed the onset of HIP and increased the duration of HIP. Propofol treatment also decreased the release of amino acid neurotransmitters such as aspartate, glutamate and glycine induced by hypoxia, but elevated the release of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Morphological studies showed that propofol treatment attenuated oedema of pyramid neurons in the CA1 region and reduced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propofol has a neuro-protective effect on hippocampal neuron injury induced by hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University , Wuxi , PR China .
authors.forename: Deng-xing
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hao-zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ying-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Qi-feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D015742:Propofol
keywords: Hippocampal slice; hypoxic injury; neuroprotection; propofol