Abstract:

To investigate the effect and significances of propofol on betaEndorphin in brain tissues after thermal stress in rats. Methods72 male Wister rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Rats that received neither anesthesia nor WBH treatment served as the control group (group C, n=8), rats which were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of chloral hydrate followed with thermal stress served as the model group (group M, n=32), and other rats which were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of propofol followed with whole body hyperthermia keeping at 42?℃ for 30?min served as the hyperthermia group (group HP, n=32). The mechanical withdrawal threshold to von Frey hair stimulation was checked at 2, 6, 12 and 24?h after hyperthermia intervention. The rat hypothalamus was then rapidly removed to detect betaEndorphin with the radioimmunoassay method and neuron apoptosis with TUNEL. ResultBetaEndorphin in the hypothalamus of groups M and HP were greatly increased compared with that of the control group, and the mechanical withdrawal threshold to von Frey hair stimulation changed as well (P<0.05). BetaEndorphin of group HP was increased compared with that of group M at 6 and 12 h. The amount of apoptotic neurons increased as follows: group C

Key words: Propofol; Hyperthermia, induced; Betaendorphin; Pain; Apoptosis； Rats