[Protective effects of propofol combined with reserpine on cultured PC12 cells impaired by ischemia and reperfusion].

Objective: To evaluate the protective action of propofol and reserpine, as well as a combination of the two drugs on cultured pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) impaired by mimic ischemia reperfusion (IR), and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: PC12 cells were subjected to IR to reproduce the experimental model. They were divided into IR group, propofol (P) group, reserpine (R) group, and fospropofol/reserpine combined treatment (PR) group. The scale of cell impairment in each group was assessed by the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and by the absorption (A) at 570 nm with the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The change in [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura-2/AM fluorescence assay after the treatment of propofol, reserpine, or both.

Results: Compared with IR group, the release of LDH was decreased and the A values increased in P, R and PR groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). When combined with reserpine (40 micromol/L), different concentrations of propofol (12.4, 37.3 and 112.0 micromol/L) rendered the cells to release less LDH, with an increase in A value (all P < 0.05). Both propofol (12.4 micromol/L and 37.3 micromol/L) and reserpine (40 micromol/L) could lessen the overload of intra-cellular calcium after IR [(279.66+/-18.00) nmol/L vs. (219.41+/-12.53) nmol/L, (279.66+/-18.00) nmol/L vs. (210.50+/-11.03) nmol/L, (279.66+/-18.00) nmol/L vs. (254.82+/-10.45) nmol/L,P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. [Ca2+]i could be further lowered when the cells were treated with propofol and reserpine in combination [(191.19+/-10.36) nmol/L and (183.82+/-9.83) nmol/L, both P < 0.05].

Conclusion: Both propofol and reserpine can protect cells from IR injury, and attenuate [Ca2+]i overload induced by IR. The attenuation of [Ca2+]i overload in impaired cells may be one of the mechanisms for their protective actions.