Suppression of sodium channel currents in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons by propofol / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on the whole-cell sodium currents in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons in order to determine whether brain sodium channels are involved in the molecular mechanism of action of propofol. Methods The pyramidal neurons were enzymatically isolated from rat hippocampus. The experiment was divided into seven groups in group 1-4 (propofol groups) different amount of propofol (dissolved in intralipid) was added to bath solution and four solutions of different propofol concentration-10, 30, 50 and 100 ?mol?L-1 were prepared (Pro10 , Pro30 , Pro50 and Pro100 ); in group 5-6 intralipid alone (without propofol) was added to bath solution and two solutions of intralipid concentration equal to that of Pro50 and Pro100 were prepared; in group 7 neither propofol nor intralipid was added to the bath solution. The effect of propofol and intralipid on the whole-cell sodium channel currents were assessed using patch-clamp technique.Results When the holding potential was - 100 mV, the four concentrations of propofol (10, 30, 50 and 100 ?mol?L-1) reduced peak sodium currents by 14.4%?8.7% , 42.9%?8.8% , 67.2?18.1% and 85.1%?14.9% respectively, with a mean LC50 of 32.5 ?mol?L-1.The two concentrations of intralipid did not significantly affect the peak sodium currents. Conclusion Propofol significantly inhibits the brain sodium channel currents in a dose-dependent manner, indicating a possible role of brain sodium channel suppression in propofol anesthesia.