Effectiveness of propofol pretreatment on the extent of deranged cerebral mitochondrial oxidative enzyme system after incomplete forebrain ischemia/reperfusion in rats

It has been suggested that propofol has the protective effect on cerebral i schemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of propofol pretreatment on incomplete forebrain ischemia-reperfusion inju ry in rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and randomly allocated into propofol group (n=13) and saline group (n=17). In propofol group, propofol was pretreated in a step-down scheme be fore inducing forebrain ischemia by occlusion of both common carotid arteri es and arteria[ hypotension. After ischemia (20 min) and reperfusion (30 mi n), rats were decapitated. Brain was sliced to obtain coronal slices of 4-1 2 mm from frontal pole, which were reacted with 2% 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetra zolium chloride (TTC) for 10 min to differentiate the damaged tissues from normal tissues. Median (interquartile range) Values of the average percent infarct area were 0.0 (8.6)% and 20.1 (41.2)% in propofol and saline groups , respectively. There was significant difference between the groups. In con clusion, propofol may have a protective effect on incomplete forebrain isch emia-reperfusion injury.