Effect of Propofol on Expression of Phosphorylated Tau Protein and Beta-amyloid(1-42) Protein in Hippocampus of Offspring Rat / 医药导报

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of propofol exposure during pregnancy on space cognitive and exploration abilities and expression of phosphorylated tau protein ( P-tau) and beta-amyloid protein[ Aβ(1-42) ] in hippocampus of the offspring. Methods Sprague-Dawley female (n=24) and male rats (n=8) of three months old were mated at the same cage at the ratio of 31. Pregnant rats were randomly divided into early group (group E), medium group (group M), late group (group L) and control group ( group C) , with 6 rats in each group. Groups E, M and L received propofol 80 mg · kg-1 · d-1 for 7 consecutive days. Propofol was replaced with equal volume of physiological saline in group C. Learning and memory of the 30-day offspring rats were assessed by using Morris water maze test. Then offspring rats were sacrificed to determine the expression of P-tau and Aβ(1-42) in the hippocampus by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Results The learning and memory abilities were declined significantly in group E (51. 20±8. 11) s, group M (36. 00±6. 44) s and group L (47. 20±12. 30) s, as compared with group C (65. 60± 7. 23) s (all P<0. 05). The result of immunohistochemistry and ELISA showed that expression of Aβ(1-42) and P-tau in hippocampus was significantly higher in group M than in groups E, L and C[(immunohistochemistry Aβ(1-42), (27. 38±5. 90) vs. (12. 65± 2. 08), (13. 79±3. 37), and (65. 60±7. 23); P-tau, (26. 35±5. 83) vs. (13. 65±3. 46), (14. 56±3. 82), and (8. 49±1. 20);ELISAAβ(1-42) , (88. 6±7. 43) vs. (71. 60±6. 79), (13. 79±3. 37), and (65. 80±6. 28);P-tau, (230. 13±8. 22) vs. (210. 42± 2.20), (210.95±1. 75), and (200. 65±1. 57)] (all P<0.05). Conclusion Multiple propofol injections may impair rat offspring’ s space cognitive abilities and exploration abilities, and the impairment is especially obvious in second trimester of pregnancy, which may be associated with over-expression of P-tau and Aβ(1-42) .