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 3:1. 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);ELISA:Aβ(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) .