Effect of propofol on beta amyloid induced cell death in PC-12 cells

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prominent neurodegenerative diseases in the United States. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease of the brain characterized by neuronal cell death and subsequent impairment of memory. Although the cause is unknown, a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease is an increase in the level of beta amyloid peptides. Beta amyloid peptides form plaques around neurons and ultimately cause neuronal cell death via apoptosis.Propofol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol, is a widely used intravenous anesthetic that demonstrates neuroprotective activity. Propofol is thought to have properties that potentially modulate apoptosis. As a result, investigating and clarifying the effect of propofol on apoptotic cell death was of both clinical interest and biochemical importance.The effect of propofol on beta amyloid treated cells was investigated using culture rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. Rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells area useful neuron-like model for studying programmed cell death because they resemble sympathetic neurons both biochemically and phenotypically.PC-12 cells were cultured and treated with various concentrations of beta amyloid peptides. PC-12 cells were then exposed to varying concentrations of propofol and incubated for periods of four and twenty-four hours. Control groups of pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells were not exposed to propofol. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, and lowry protein content were then assessed.It was hypothesized that there would be a reduced amount of beta amyloid induced cell death in PC-12 cell cultures exposed to propofol compared to PC-12 cells not exposed to propofol. The results of this study reject the hypothesis. Beta amyloid treated PC-12 cells exposed to propofol did not demonstrate a decreased amount of cell viability compared to PC-12 cells not exposed to propofol.Statistical analysis consisted of linear regression for standard curves. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple range tests. All differences with p<0.05 were considered significant.Key words: Propofol, Beta amyloid, PC-12 cells, Alzheimer's Disease, apoptosis, anesthesia.