Effects of propofol on cultured hippocampal neurons injured by glutamic acid

Objective Propofol has been found to have anti-lipid peroxidation effect. We aimed to evaluate the effects of propofol on primarily cultured hippocampal neurons injured by glutamic acid. Methods Hippocampal neurons were obtained from newborn Wistar rats (within 24 h after birth) and cultured for 12 days. The 12 d cultured hippocampal neurons were randomly divided into three groups : (1) control group; (2) glutamate group in which cells were incubated with glutamate 100 μmol·L-1 for 24 h; (3) propofol-glutamate group in which cells were incubated with propofol 500 μmol·L-1 and glutamate 100 μmol·L-1 for 24 h. Cell survival rate (MTT), apoptosis (flow cytometry) and C-fos protein (immuno-histochemistry) production were determined in each group. Results C-fos protein and apoptosis were significantly increased and survival rate was decreased in glutamate group compared with those in control group ( P 0.01) . In propofol-glutamate group propofol reduced C-fos protein, decreased apoptosis in the cells and increased survival rate compared with those in glutamate group ( P 0.05, 0.01). Conclusion Propofol antagonizes the neurotoxic action of excitatoy amino-acic.