Effect of propranolol on brain electrical activity during hyperbaric oxygenation in the rat

The effect of 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg propranolol on the neuroelectrophysiological manifestations of CNS oxygen toxicity was studied in conscious rats. Cortical electrodes for electrocorticographic (ECoG) recording and femoral venous cannula for i.v. infusion were implanted 7 and 3 d, respectively, before the experiment. The rats were divided into 5 groups. Groups I to III were treated with 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg propranolol, respectively, and Group IV with saline. Groups I-IV were exposed to 5 ATA O2 until the appearance of the first cortical paroxysmal electrical discharges (FED), considered to be a preconvulsive electrophysiological manifestation of CNS oxygen toxicity. Rats in Group V were exposed to 5 ATA N2-O2 normoxia and treated with 5 mg/kg propranolol. After the hyperbaric exposures and the i.v. administration of propranolol a typical ECoG pattern consisting of frequent bursts of high amplitude spindle-like waves of 6-7 c/s activity was observed. In hyperbaric oxygen-exposed rats, the paroxysmal electrical discharges were always preceded by the propranolol-induced spindle wave activity (in theta range) and oxygen-induced slow wave activity (in delta range) in ECoG. Infusion of 2 and 5 mg/kg propranolol significantly delayed the time of onset of the oxygen-induced slow wave activity and the FED. It is suggested that the protective effect of propranolol against the neurological manifestations of oxygen toxicity, may be related to its multiple effects on physiological systems rather than beta adrenergic blocking action alone.