Propofol Protects Cultured Brain Cells from Iron Ion-Induced Death: Comparison with Trolox

peer reviewedThe anesthetic propofol (PPF) has been shown to be an antioxidant in acellular experiments. This study was designed to assess the ability of PPF to protect primary-cultured brain cells against iron-mediated toxicity. A comparison with trolox (TX), a hydrosoluble vitamin E analogue, was performed. Rat cortical cells were exposed to 10 microM FeSO(4), PPF and/or TX. After a 4-h incubation, PPF and TX improved cell survival (lactate dehydrogenase measurements) in a concentration-dependent manner. The respective EC(50s) of each substance were 4 and 4.6 microM. The maximal effect was obtained at a 25-microM concentration which is similar to concentrations of PPF used clinically. The combination of both drugs at certain concentrations showed a complete protection of the cells, a significant decrease in intracellular peroxide production (dichloro-fluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) fluorescence, 4-h incubation), in lipoperoxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances fluorescence, PPF 6.25 microM+TX 12.5 microM) and an additive protective effect. This was true after 4- and 16-h incubation. These data suggest that PPF is neuroprotective. Moreover, the combination with a vitamin E analogue confers long duration protection against oxidative stress