Role of propofol in protection of neurons against ischemia/reperfusion injury

Objective To study the role of propofol in protection of neurons against ischemia/reperfusion（I/R） injury. Methods Hippocampal cells of Wistar rats at the age of 12h were cultured in vitro and a hypoxia and reoxygenation model of primary hippocampal cells was established.Morphology of hippocampal cells was observed.Cell survival rate was calculated with trypan blue staining.An in vivo model of I/R injury was established.The rats were divided into middle cerebral artery occlusion（MCAO） model group,propofol treatment group,and normal control group.Longa′s neurological symptoms were scored.Cerebral infarction size was measured with TTC and H＆E staining. Results The survived hippocampal cells were characterized by a large number of cytodendrites with a dense neuron net in hypoxia and reoxygenation model group after propofol treatment.The cell survival rate was significantly higher in propofol（100μmol/L） treatment group than in MCAO model group（56.2±3.7 vs 38.6±4.3,P＜0.05）.The score of neurological symptoms was significantly higher in 24h MCAO model group than in propofol treatment group（0.8±0.5 vs 2.3±0.5,P＜0.05）.TTC and H＆E staining indicated that the infarction size was significantly smaller in propofol treatment group than in MCAO model group（123.21±11.04 vs 214.95±16.79,P＜0.05）.H＆E staining showed more normal cells in propofol treatment group than in MCAO model group. Conclusion Propofol can protect neurons against I/R injury.