Effects of propofol (intravenous propofol emulsion) on cell membranes measured by electrofusion and electroporation

The influence of propofol (CAS 2078-54-8 (intravenous propofol emulsion) on cell membrane properties was investigated in vitro with techniques of cell electrofusion and cell electroporation. Human lymphoma cells and plant pro toplasts were chosen as a model system. Propofol (intravenous propofol emul sion) decreased the electrofusion yield of the cells and their membrane per meability, A 50% decrease in relative electrofusion was observed in human l ymphoma cells in the presence of about 0.05 mmol/l propofol (intravenous pr opofol emulsion) and in plant protoplasts in the presence of about 0.1 mmol /l. The fusion of human lymphoma cells was inhibited to 100 % at concentrat ions higher than 0.2 mmol/l propofol and 0.4 mmol/l intravenous propofol em ulsion. The membrane permeability of human lymphoma cells decreased by the factor of two with increasing propofol concentrations up to about 0.1 mmol/ l. The effects of electroporation were highly reversible, Propofol (intrave nous propofol emulsion) was more effective than tetracaine. These sensitive techniques are suitable for the investigation of interactions between anes thetic drugs and the cell membrane.