Effects of propofol on mitochondrial membrane permeability during hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat hippocampal neurons

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on mitochondrial membrane permeability during hypoxia/reoxygenation （H/R） in rat hippocampal neurons. Methods Primary cultured hippocampal neurons of fetal rats obtained from Wistar （17-18 days of gestation） were randomly divided into 3 groups： Ⅰ control group （group C）, Ⅱ H/R group and Ⅲ propofol ＋ H/R group. Neurons were cultured in the culture medium with combined oxygen glucose deprivation for 2 h followed by reoxygenation in group Ⅱ and Ⅲ. In group Ⅲ propofol was added to the culture medium with the final concentration of 20 μ mol/L before combined oxygen glucose deprivation.Neuronal viability was detected by MTT assay and mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） with flow cytometry at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after reoxygenation （T1-5） and the permeability of cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane was monitored at T5 using laser confocal scanning microscope. Results The neuronal viability and MMP were significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）, while the permeability of cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane was increased at T5 in group Ⅱ as compared to group Ⅰ . The neuronal viability at T1-4 and MMP at T1-5 were significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）, while the permeability of cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane was decreased at T5 in group Ⅲ compared to group Ⅱ . Conclusion Propofol can protect rat hippocampal neurons against H/R injury through increasing MMP, improving the cell and mitochondrial membrane permeability, and increasing the neuronal viability. Key words: Propofol; Cell hypoxia; Oxygen; Mitochondrial membranes; Permeability; Hippocampus; Neurons