Role of RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway in propofol-induced neuroapoptosis in hippocampus of newborn rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the role of Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) signaling pathway in propofol-induced neuroapoptosis in the hippocampus of newborn rats.Methods Experiment Ⅰ Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were seeded in 6-well culture plates at a density of 1×106 cells/ml and divided into 2 groups (n=6 each) using a random number tablesolvent control group (C group) and propofol group (P group).Propofol was added with the final concentration of 60 μg/ml in group P.Dimethyl sulfoxide was added with the final concentration of 0.04％ in group C.The expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot at 24 h of incubation.Experiment Ⅱ Primarily cultured hippocampal neurons were seeded in 6-well culture plates at a density of 1 × 106 cells/ml and divided into 3 groups (n =6 each) using a random number tablesolvent control group (C group),propofol group (P group) and propofol plus specific RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway blocker Y27632 group (P+Y group).Propofol was added with the final concentration of 60 μg/ml in group P.Propofol at the final concentration of 60 μg/ml and Y27632 at the final concentration of 10 μmol/L were added in group P+Y.Dimethyl sulfoxide was added with the final concentrauon of 0.04％ in group C.At 24 h of incubation,the neuroapoptosis in hippocampi was detected by flow cytometry,and the expression of activated caspase-3 in hippocampal neurons was measured by Western blot.The apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Experiment Ⅰ Compared with group C,the expression of RhoA and ROCK2 in hippocampal neurons was significantly up-regulated in group P (P＜0.05).Experiment Ⅱ Compared with group C,the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly increased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was up-regulated in P and P+Y groups (P＜0.05 or 0.01).Compared with group P,the apoptotic rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased,and the expression of activated caspase-3 was down-rcgulatcd in group P + Y (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Activation of RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway is involved in propofol-induced neuroapoptosis in hippocampi of newborn rats.