Propofol effectively inhibits lithium-pilocarpine- induced status epilepticus in rats via downregulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit expression.
Status epilepticus was induced via intraperitoneal injection of lithium-pilocarpine. The inhibitory effects of propofol on status epilepticus in rats were judged based on observation of behavior, electroencephalography and 24-hour survival rate. Propofol (12.5-100 mg/kg) improved status epilepticus in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly reduced the number of deaths within 24 hours of lithium-pilocarpine injection. Western blot results showed that, 24 hours after induction of status epilepticus, the levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A and 2B subunits were significantly increased in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Propofol at 50 mg/kg significantly suppressed the increase in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit levels, but not the increase in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A subunit levels. The results suggest that propofol can effectively inhibit status epilepticus induced by lithium-pilocarpine. This effect may be associated with downregulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit expression after seizures.
Department of Anesthesiology, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China.
Henglin
H
Wang
Department of Anesthesiology, the 309 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100091, China.
Zhuoqiang
Z
Wang
Center of Anesthesiology and Operation, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
Weidong
W
Mi
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100850, China.
Cong
C
Zhao
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100850, China.
Yanqin
Y
Liu
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100850, China.
Yongan
Y
Wang
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100850, China.
Haipeng
H
Sun
2B subunit; N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A; cerebral cortex; electroencephalogram; hippocampus; propofol; status epilepticus