OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of propofol on the proliferation and differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem cells in vitro.

METHODSEmbryonic neural stem cells of fetal Wistar rats (gestational age of 14-16 days) in primary culture, after identification for nestin expression, were divided into control group, introlipid group, and propofol groups (treated with propofol at the doses of 5, 25, 50, and 100 µmol/L). The changes in the proliferation of the embryonic neural stem cells after the treatments were observed using Brdu incorporation assay. In the course of induced differentiation of the embryonic neural stem cells, 50 µmol/L propofol was added in the cells to assess its impact on the differentiation of the cells by immunohistochemical detection of NeuN and GFAP expressions.

RESULTSMore than 95% of the embryonic neural stem cells in primary culture were Nestin-positive. The percentages of Brdu-positive cells showed no significant changes after treatment with different concentrations of propofol, whereas the addition of 50 µmol/L propofol resulted in a significant increase of NeuN-positive cell percentage to (23.1∓0.9)% as compared with that of (13.4∓0.8)% in the control group (P<0.05) without affecting the GFAP-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONClinically relevant doses of propofol have no obvious effect on the proliferation of rat neural stem cells cultured in vitro, but can induce their differentiation into neuron-like cells.