Propofol and sodium thiopental protect against MK-801-induced neuronal necrosis in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists act by an anti-excitotoxic action to provide neuroprotection against acute brain injury, but these agents can also cause toxic effects. In low doses they induce reversible neuronal injury, but in higher doses they cause irreversible degeneration of cerebrocortical neurons. GABAmimetic drugs protect against the reversible neurotoxic changes in rat brain. Here we show that two GABAmimetic anesthetic agents--propofol and sodium thiopental--protect against the irreversible neurodegenerative reaction induced by the powerful NMDA antagonist, MK-801.