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The neuroprotective effect of propofol against brain ischemia mediated by the glutamatergic signaling pathway in rats

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Abstract

Several mechanisms are involved in the neuroprotection of propofol against ischemia, but influences of propofol on the binding properties of glutamate receptors and the uptake of glutamate in brain ischemia are not known. The present study was undertaken to investigate these issues in rat global brain ischemic model using methods of neuropathological evaluation, radioligand binding assay with and uptake test for L-3H-glutamate. It was shown that propofol used in anesthetic doses protected pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 subfield against delayed neuronal death normally induced by global brain ischemia. Simultaneously, the propofol decreased the value of maximal number of binding sites (Bmax), increased the value of equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), and increased the glutamate uptake in the CA1 subfield. These findings indicate that it is, at least partly, via modulating the binding properties of glutamate receptors and the uptake of glutamate that propofol protects neurons against ischemic injury.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by: 1. National Natural Science Foundation of China (No: 30770738); 2. Special Foundation for Doctor Education in University from Ministry of Education, PR China (No: 20050089001); 3. Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, PR China (No: C200500720 and No: C2008001042).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People’s Republic of China

    Jinsong Cai, Yuyan Hu, Wenbin Li, Shuqin Li, Min Zhang & Qingjun Li

  2. Aging and Cognition Neuroscience Laboratory of Hebei Province, 89 Donggang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050031, People’s Republic of China

    Wenbin Li

  3. Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People’s Republic of China

    Li Li

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  1. Jinsong Cai
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  2. Yuyan Hu
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  3. Wenbin Li
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  4. Li Li
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  5. Shuqin Li
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  6. Min Zhang
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  7. Qingjun Li
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Correspondence to Wenbin Li.

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Cai, J., Hu, Y., Li, W. et al. The neuroprotective effect of propofol against brain ischemia mediated by the glutamatergic signaling pathway in rats. Neurochem Res 36, 1724–1731 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-011-0487-1

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