Protective effect of propofol preconditioning and postconditioning against ischemic spinal cord injury

Propofol preconditioning has been shown to provide neuroprotection against spinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. In this study, spinal cord ischemia/repeffusion injury was induced by blocking the abdominal aorta in rabbits for 40 minutes. Results showed that the co-application of propofol preconditioning and postconditioning regimen ameliorated pathological injury of the ischemic spinal cord and suppressed the elevation of malondialdehyde levels and increased superoxide dismutase activities in the spinal cord tissues. Co-application of propofol preconditioning and postconditioning resulted in potent protective effects against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and prolonged the spinal cord＇s tolerance to ischemia. This protection was associated with the anti-lipid peroxidation capacity of the spinal cord tissues.

Propofol regulates Ca～(2+),Mg～(2+),Cu～(2+) and Zn～(2+) balance in the spinal cord after ischemia/reperfusion injury

This study assessed concentrations of Ca2＋, Mg2＋, Cu2＋ and Zn2＋ in blood serum and spinal cord tissues, as well as the possible mechanisms by which propofol may protect spinal cord tissues during ischemia/reperfusion injury. With prolonged duration of ischemia/reperfusion injury, serum Ca2＋ and Cu2＋ concentrations gradually increased, but Mg 2＋ and Zn2＋ concentrations gradually decreased. Seven days after spinal cord injury, changes in Ca2＋, Mg2＋, Cu2＋ and Zn2＋ concentrations were significant. After 7 days of reperfusion, changes in the concentrations of Ca2＋, Mg2＋, Cu2＋ and Zn2＋ in spinal cord homogenates were consistent with those in the serum. After propofol treatment, no significant changes in Ca2＋, Mg2＋, Cu2~ and Zn2＋ concentrations in serum and spinal cord homogenates were noted during ischemia/reperfusion injury. These findings suggest that propofol exerts protective effects against spinal cord injury by stabilizing or recovering metal ion balance in ischemic regions.