Effect of propofol on dopamine metabolism in the rat prefrontal cortex under noxious stimulation

Abstract

Although the use of propofol for sedation during dental treatment is on the increase, there have been few reports on its effect on the central nervous system.I used microdialysis to examine the effect of propofol on dopamine metabolism in the rat prefrontal cortex to study its effect on the central nervous system.The dopamine level of the animals receiving propofol was significantly increased with stimulation compared with those receiving physiological saline.Administrating both propofol and bicuculine with noxious stimulation did not significantly change the dopamine level.This suggests that the mechanism of propofol might be related to the GABA_A receptor.