title: Propofol and remifentanil at moderate and high concentrations affect proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells.
abstract: Propofol and remifentanil alter intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) in neural stem/progenitor cells by activating γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors and by reducing testosterone levels. However, whether this process affects neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation remains unknown. In the present study, we applied propofol and remifentanil, alone or in combination, at low, moderate or high concentrations (1, 2-2.5 and 4-5 times the clinically effective blood drug concentration), to neural stem/progenitor cells from the hippocampi of newborn rat pups. Low concentrations of propofol, remifentanil or both had no noticeable effect on cell proliferation or differentiation; however, moderate and high concentrations of propofol and/or remifentanil markedly suppressed neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, and induced a decrease in [Ca(2+)]i during the initial stage of neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation. We therefore propose that propofol and remifentanil interfere with the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells by altering [Ca(2+)]i. Our findings suggest that propofol and/or remifentanil should be used with caution in pediatric anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China ; Anesthesiology Research Institude, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China ; Anesthesiology Research Institude, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China ; Anesthesiology Research Institude, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Xianyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: [Ca2+]i; apoptosis; differentiation; nerve regeneration; neural progenitor cells; neural regeneration; neural stem cells; proliferation; propofol; remifentanil