Effect of propofol on N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor in cultured rat hippocampal neurons / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated currents. Methods Hippocampal neurons were prepared from newborn Wistar rats and cultured for 8-12 days. Whole cell currents were recorded using patch-clamp technique and cells were voltaged-clamped at - 80 mV. 100 ?mol?L-1 NMDA and 3 or 48 ?g?ml-1 propofol were applied with a multi-pipe ejection system. GABAA receptor was then blocked with 100 ?mol?L-1 bicuculline to investigate the effect of propofol on NMDA receptor without the influence of GABAA receptor.Results Run-down of INMDA induced by 100 ?mol?L-1 NMDA applied to neurons which were cultured for 8-12 days was 15%?8%. Propofol 3 or 48 ?g?ml-1 significantly inhibited spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents and elicited a Cl- -mediated response by direct activation of GABAA receptor in the absence of GABA. therefore produced a reversible inhibition of whole cell currents activated by NMDA. After the GABAA receptor was blocked by 100 ?mol?L-1 bicuculine propofol still inhibited NMDA currents slightly. Conclusion Propofol inhibits the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptor mainly through activation of GABAA receptor. It can also directly suppress the NMDA receptor slightly.