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Published on: July 24, 2018
Short-term propofol anaesthesia down-regulates clock genes expression in the master clock.
Nawfel Ben-Hamouda1,2, Vincent-Joseph Poirel1, Garance Dispersyn1,3
1a Institut des neurosciences cellulaires et integratives, Neurobiology of Rhythms, CNRS (UPR3212) , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France.
Propofol anesthesia transiently reduces Per1 and Per2 gene expression in the brain's master clock, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). This finding may explain post-anesthesia "jet-lag-like" symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Propofol anesthesia influences circadian rhythms regulated by the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).
- Previous studies link inhalational anesthesia to reduced Per2 mRNA in rodents.
- The acute impact of propofol on the SCN molecular clock remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a single propofol dose on Per1 and Per2 clock gene expression in the rat SCN.
- To clarify the direct impact of propofol on the SCN molecular clockwork.
Main Methods:
- Rats received a single dose of propofol or a vehicle control.
- Brain samples were collected at projected circadian times CT11, CT12, and CT13.
- Per1 and Per2 mRNA expression in the SCN was analyzed using in situ hybridization.
Main Results:
- Propofol treatment significantly decreased Per1 expression in the SCN at CT11 and CT12 compared to controls.
- A significant treatment effect was observed for Per2 expression.
- The observed down-regulation of Per genes was directly correlated with propofol administration.
Conclusions:
- Short-term propofol anesthesia causes a transient decrease in Per1 and Per2 expression within the SCN.
- This molecular disruption in the master clock may underlie circadian rhythm disturbances post-anesthesia.
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