Abstract:

Objective To explore the impact of propofol preconditioning on cognitive function in septic rats. Methods 48 SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group，cecal ligation and perforation（CLP）group， low⁃dose propofol preconditioning group，and high⁃dose group. The sepsis model was established by CLP method. For propofol pretreatment，high ⁃ and low ⁃dose of propofol was continuously pumped 10 minutes before establish⁃ ment of the rat model. Morris water maze experiment was used to detect changes in rat's cognitive function. Plasma was collected 48 hours after the operation to detect the content of inflammatory factors. The degree of pathological damage in rat brain tissue was analyzed. Then，mRNA and protein levels of the frontal cortex and hippocampus CA1 area were detected by RT ⁃ PCR and Western blot，and malondialdehyde（MDA），superoxide dismutase （SOD）and reactive oxygen species（ROS）were analyzed by ELISA. Results As compared with Sham group， cognitive function was significantly impaired in CLP group，expression levels of serum inflammatory factors were significantly increased，and neurons of the frontal cortex and hippocampal CA1 area were seriously damaged. Expression levels of IL⁃1β，IL⁃6，TNF⁃α，MDA and ROS were increased significantly，while activity of SOD was decreased. Conclusions Propofol preconditioning alleviates brain cognitive dysfunction caused by sepsis，whose mechanism may be related with its anti⁃inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Key words:

propofol, sepsis, cognitive function, oxidative stress