Assessment of postischemic neurogenesis in rats with cerebral ischemia and propofol anesthesia.

Background Postischemic endogenous neurogenesis can be dose-dependently modulated by volatile anesthetics. The intravenous anesthetic propofol is used during operations with a risk of cerebral ischemia, such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and vascular surgery. The effects of propofol on neurogenesis are unknown and, therefore, the object of this study. Methods Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to treatment groups with propofol administration for 3 h: 36 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) propofol with or without cerebral ischemia and 72 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) propofol with or without cerebral ischemia. In addition, 7 rats with propofol administration for 6 h and 14 treatment-naive ra…