Effects of propofol on expression of death-associated protein ktnase mRNA in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) mRNA expression in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Sixty male Wistar rats with a mean age of 3-4 months and mean body weight of 250-300 g were randomly divided into 6 groups ( n = 10 each) : Ⅰ normal control;Ⅱ sham operation; Ⅲ TBI; Ⅳ normal saline (NS) +TBI;Ⅴ fat emulsinn+ TBI and Ⅵ propefol + TBI. TBI was produced according to Feeney et al. In group Ⅲ-Ⅵ the animals were killed and their brains were removed at 24 h after brain contusion. NS 2 ml·kg-1 · h-1 , 10% fat emulsion 2 ml · kg-1 · h-1 and propofol 2 ml·kg-1·h-1 were infused iv for 4 h after lead trauma in group Ⅳ, Ⅴ and Ⅵ respectively. DAPK mRNAexpression in the brain tissue was determined by RT-PCR and neuronal apeptosis was assessed by TUNEL. Results The expression of DAPK mRNA and neuronal apoptosis were significantly increased in the TBI group as compared with normal control and sham operation groups. Propefol infusion significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis and reduced DAPK mRNA expression as compared with TBI, NS and FE groups. Conclusion Propofol can protect the brain from traumatic injury by suppression of the expression of DAPK mRNA. Key words: Propofol; Brain injuries; Apoptosis; Neurons; Protein-serine-threonine kinases