Effects of propofol on NO, SOD and MDA levels during endotoxic shock in rats

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in blood and lung during endotoxic shock in rats.Methods Seventy-two male Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were randomly divided into thiee groups :group Ⅰ control (C) ( n = 8) ; group Ⅱ endotoxic shock (L) ( n = 32) and group Ⅲ propofol + endotoxic shock (P) ( n = 32) . The animals were anesthetized with 3% pentobarbital 25 mg·kg-1 , tracheostomized and mechanically ventilated . Carotid and pulmonary artery were cannulated for MAP and MPAP monitoring. In group Ⅱ (L) and Ⅲ (P) endotoxin 10 mg·kg-1 was injected intraperitoneally. In group P 10 min before endotoxin administration subcutaneous propofol infusion was started at a rate of 20 mg·kg-1·h-1 . In control group normal saline(NS) was given ip instead of endotoxin. Venous blood samples were taken at 30, 90, 180 and 360 min after intraperitoneal endotoxin or NS injection. In group L and P 8 animals were killed at each time point respectively and in control group the 8 animals were killed at 360 min after ip NS injection. The lungs were immediately removed. Blood and lung NO and MDA levels and RBC SOD content were measured.Results The serum and lung NO concentration measured at all 4 time points were significantly lower in group Ⅲ than those in group n (P 0.05 or 0.01) . The serum and lung MDA level measured at 90, 180 and 360 min in groupⅢwere significantly lower than those in groupⅡ( P 0.05 or 0.01) . RBC SOD level in groupⅡand Ⅲ was significantly lower than that in control group but RBC SOD level in group Ⅲ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅱ ( P 0.05) . Conclusion Propofol has antioxidative effect and can decrease NO concentration, inhibit synthesis of MDA and increase SOD activity during endotoxic shock, thus improving the function state.