Background: Ischemic stroke creates irreparable damages in patients with cerebrovascular disease. The CA1 region in hippocampus is one of the most sensitive areas of brain to ischemia. The recent reports have considered administrating propofol, as a neuroprotective agent. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of propofol on CA1 region of hippocampus on male lab rats following ischemia/ transient overall reperfusion in the empirical models.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups, each containing 6 rats to serve as control, ischemia and test subjects. Propofol in 40mg/kg dose was injected intraperitoneal, 1 hour before ischemia. The ischemia model was performed by bilateral blockage of common carotid arteries for 20 minutes. The Hematoxylin-Eosin, Nissl and TUNEL methods were used for evaluating histomorphologic changes, the changes in number of cells and the apoptotic bodies.

Results: Injecting 40mg/kg propofol revealed protective characteristics on hippocampal pyramidal neurons of the ischemia/reperfusion induced lab rats.

Conclusion: Ischemia causes death of neurons and morphological changes, while injecting propofol is able to significantly reduce the death of neurons and protect neurons against ischemic damages.

Keywords: Neuroprotective.  Propofol.  Hippocampus.  Ischemia–reperfusion. Rat.