High-dose Propofol Triggers Short-term Neuroprotection and Long-term Neurodegeneration in Primary Neuronal Cultures from Rat Embryos

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of propofol on primary neuronal cultures from rat embryos. Primary cortical neuronal cultures were prepared from Wistar rat embryos (E18). The viability of cells exposed to 0.01, 0.1 or 1 mg/ml propofol for up to 48 h was assessed using a methyltetrazolium assay. In order to evaluate the role of γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA_A) receptors, cells were also pre-incubated with the GABA_A-receptor antagonists, gabazine and picrotoxin. Propofol at a concentration of 1 mg/ml significantly reduced cell viability after 12 h. In contrast, this concentration led to a significant increase in cell viability at 3 and 6 h. The GABA_A-receptor antagonists did not influence the neurodegenerative effect of propofol but abolished its neuroprotective effect. DNA fragmentation as a marker of apoptosis was elevated after 24 h propofol treatment. These results confirm that high doses of propofol can cause GABA_A-receptor triggered neuroprotection and a subsequent time-dependent, but GABA_A-independent, neurodegeneration in primary cortical neurons.