Propofol Anesthesia Increases Dopamine and Serotonin Activities at the Somatosensory Cortex in Rats

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Abstract
Acid (4-hydroxy-3-methyphenylacetic acid; HVA) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the somatosensory cortex. We also measured the levels of propofol in the brain and blood by microdialysis sampling in another group of rats (n = 6). During the experiment, the rat was infused intravenously (IV) with propofol at a rate of 10 mg [centered dot] kg-1 [centered dot] h-1 for 60 min and 60 mg [centered dot] kg-1 [centered dot] h-1 for 40 min. We found that IV infusion of propofol at a rate of 60 mg [centered dot] kg-1 [centered dot] h-1 significantly increased DOPAC, HVA, and 5-HIAA. We also determined that these changes correlated well with propofol levels in the brain and blood. We concluded that anesthetic doses of propofol increased the functional activities of dopamine and serotonin in the cortex. These increases correlate well with propofol levels in the cortex and blood. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:1344-8)...