Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2014, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (22): 2002-2007.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.145384

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Propofol and remifentanil at moderate and high concentrations affect proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells

Qing Li 1, 2, Jiang Lu 1, 2, Xianyu Wang 1, 2   

  1. 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China
    2 Anesthesiology Research Institude, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2014-09-11 Online:2014-11-25 Published:2014-11-25
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China, No. 2012FFC060; the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei University of Medicine in China, No. 2011QDZR-2; the Provincial Key Disciplines Foundation of Hubei Province of China, No. 2014XKJSSJ04.

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Abstract:

Propofol and remifentanil alter intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neural stem/progenitor cells by activating γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors and by reducing testosterone levels. However, whether this process affects neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation remains unknown. In the present study, we applied propofol and remifentanil, alone or in combination, at low, moderate or high concentrations (1, 2–2.5 and 4–5 times the clinically effective blood drug concentration), to neural stem/progenitor cells from the hippocampi of newborn rat pups. Low concentrations of propofol, remifentanil or both had no noticeable effect on cell proliferation or differentiation; however, moderate and high concentrations of propofol and/or remifentanil markedly suppressed neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, and induced a decrease in [Ca2+]i during the initial stage of neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation. We therefore propose that propofol and remifentanil interfere with the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells by altering [Ca2+]i. Our findings suggest that propofol and/or remifentanil should be used with caution in pediatric anesthesia.

Key words: nerve regeneration, propofol, remifentanil, neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, [Ca2+]i, neural regeneration