Effects of propofol on lactate accumulation and oedema formation in focal cerebral ischaemia in hyperglycaemic rats

Background. In cerebral ischaemia, hyperglycaemia brings about severe lactate accumulation and neuronal damage when compared with normoglycaemia. Propofol has been known to suppress glucose metabolism in the brain and possess neuroprotective properties in cerebral ischaemia. Therefore, in this study we examined if propofol could attenuate lactate accumulation and neuronal damage in cerebral ischaemia under hyperglycaemic conditions. Methods. Ten male wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups: low-dose (similar to12 mg kg(-1) h(-1)) and high-dose (similar to60 mg kg(-1) h(-1)) propofol groups (n=5 for each). Following injection of 2 g kg-1 glucose intraperitoneally, the middle cerebral artery was occluded for I h, and then reperfused for the following 2 h. Lactate accumulation and oedema formation were estimated consecutively using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Results. Lactate accumulation and oedema formation increased continuously during ischaemia and reperfusion in the low-dose propofol group, which was attenuated in the high-dose propofol group. Lactate/NAA (N-acetylaspartate) ratio (as an index of lactate accumulation) 60 and 120 min after reperfusion were 2.67 and 3.26 in low-dose group and 0.30 and 0.10 in high-dose group. For NMR images the number of pixels with a low average diffusion coefficient (an index of the oedema formation), 60 and 120 min after reperfusion were 250.0 and 317.8 in low-dose group, and 16.0 and 12.4 in high-dose group. Conclusion. High-dose propofol attenuated lactate accumulation and oedema formation in cerebral ischaemia in hyperglycaemic rats.