The effects of propofol on NMDA- or nitric oxide-mediated neurotoxicity in vitro.

Acute brain ischemia causes neurotoxic cascades including NMDA receptors and NO. Propofol, an i.v. anesthetic, is thought to have a neuroprotective effect. We investigated the influence of propofol on NMDA/NO neurotoxicity using Shibuta's established model of primary brain cultures. Cortical neurons prepared from E16 were used after 13-14 days in culture. The neurons were exposed to various concentrations of propofol with NMDA or NO-donor. The survival rates of neurons exposed to 30 microM NMDA with or without 300 microM propofol were 12.1 +/- 2.2% and 11.9 +/- 2.2%, respectively. The survival rates exposed to 30 microM NO-donor with or without 300 microM propofol were 11.2 +/- 4.2% and 14.0 +/- 3.9%, respectively. These results suggest that neuroprotective effect of propofol is limited and propofol does not offer advantages over thiopental against NMDA/NO-induced cytotoxicity.