The effects of propofol on normal and hypercholesterolemic isolated rabbit heart

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of propofol on cardiac contractile force in normal and hypercholesterolemic isolated rabbit hearts. While one group was fed with standard chow pellets (150 g/day), the other group received cholesterol (1% w/w) in addition to the same amount of rabbit chow pellets during 1 month. Hearts from standard-fed rabbits were given intralipid solvent or 25, 50 and 100 μM propofol by infusion. Hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts were administered 25, 50 and 100 μM propofol by infusion. All concentrations of propofol did not result in any significant change of the heart rates (HR) in two groups. Propofol (25, 50 and 100 μM) infusion induced a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition in left ventricular pressure (LVP) in standard chow diet group (P<.05, .05 and .05, respectively). In hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts, 25 and 50 μM propofol infusion developed a significant inhibition in LVP when compared with the standard chow diet group (P<.05 and .05, respectively). Propofol (100 μM) infusion developed a significant increase in LVP after 20 min in hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts when compared with normal rabbit hearts (P<.05). Supratherapeutic concentration of propofol might have cardioprotective effect on hypercholesterolemic rabbit hearts.