title: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) attenuates propofol-induced apoptosis in developing hippocampal neurons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the effect of propofol on the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) release in developing hippocampal neurons, and explored the effects of exogenous tPA on the propofol-induced neuron apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary hippocampal neurons isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to propofol (20, 50, and 100 μM) for 6 h either one time or three times. Finally, neurons were pretreated with exogenous tPA (5 µg/ml), followed by propofol exposure (100 μM, 6 h). The neuron apoptosis was detected by terminal transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 (Cl-Csp3) was analyzed by western blot, the tPA in media was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propofol exposure significantly increased the number of TUNEL-positive neurons and Cl-Csp3 expression in developing hippocampal neurons. Propofol decreased tPA level in the media of developing hippocampal neurons. The neuron appotosis induced by propofol was attenuated by pretreatment of tPA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propofol exposure decreased tPA release in developing hippocampal neurons. The addition of tPA could partially reverse the apoptotic effect of propofol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Fenglin Road 180, Shanghai, 200032 China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Fenglin Road 180, Shanghai, 200032 China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Fenglin Road 180, Shanghai, 200032 China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Fenglin Road 180, Shanghai, 200032 China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Fenglin Road 180, Shanghai, 200032 China.
authors.forename: Zhanggang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xue
keywords: Apoptosis; Developing neurons; Propofol; Tissue plasminogen activator