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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording
Published on: August 11, 2019
Propofol effects on excitatory synaptic efficacy in the CA1 region of the developing hippocampus
Xuehua Sun1, Jichuan Zhang, Hongbin Li
1Anaesthesiological Section, Union Hospital affiliated to TongJi Medical College, Huazhong University of Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China.
Insights
Propofol
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Propofol is a widely used anesthetic agent.
- It modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity in the hippocampus.
- Its effects may differ during brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental effects of propofol on synaptic transmission and long-term depression (LTD) in the rat hippocampus.
- To determine the role of intracellular chloride concentration in propofol's actions.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in hippocampal CA1 neurons from rats of different ages (postnatal days 7 and 21).
- Measurement of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) and NMDA receptor-dependent LTD.
- Manipulation of intracellular chloride concentration.
Main Results:
- Propofol more effectively suppressed EPSCs in 21-day-old rats compared to 7-day-old rats.
- Lower propofol concentrations facilitated NMDA receptor-dependent LTD at postnatal day 21 versus postnatal day 7.
- Propofol and high intracellular chloride increased EPSC decay time, dependent on chloride channel activity.
Conclusions:
- Propofol exhibits differential effects on hippocampal synaptic transmission and plasticity during development.
- Intracellular chloride concentration plays a significant role in mediating propofol's actions.
- These findings suggest age-dependent anesthetic effects of propofol in the developing brain.
Abstract:
The anesthetic, propofol, effectively suppresses excitatory synaptic transmission and facilitates long-term depression (LTD) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Here, we have examined whether these effects are different in the developing hippocampus. We found that propofol in suppressing whole-cell excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) was more effective in 21 day old rats than either in 7 day old rats or under the condition of high intracellular chloride concentration in 21 day old rats. Furthermore, the propofol concentration to facilitate the NMDA receptor-dependent LTD was lower at postnatal day 21 than at postnatal day 7. Interestingly, the decay time of EPSC was decreased during the development from postnatal day 7 to 21, but it was increased by the recording condition of high intracellular chloride concentration or by propofol administration. All these effects of propofol were dependent on the chloride channel opening. These observations suggest that propofol may induce differential anesthetic effects in the developing hippocampus, at least partially, depending on the intracellular chloride concentration.
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