2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
A role of the endocannabinoid system in a favorable recovery profile after propofol anesthesia
| Project/Area Number |
26462330
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| Research Institution | Niigata University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | propofol / anesthesia recovery / endocannabinoid system / cognitive function / emotional function |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
To elucidate the mechanism of the favorable recovery profile of propofol anesthesia, we proposed to pharmacologically dissect the effect of this anesthetic drug in several behavioral assays of emotional and cognitive functions. However, we were unable to proceed to the second part of this project as scheduled because of the failure of the dealer company to timely provide a properly made and ready-to-use piece of equipment necessary for the conduction of the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. After having to participate in the designing and testing of the trial version of the CPP box, we received its properly made version in June, 2016, and, therefore, were finally able to proceed with the experiments. During this year we used CPP box to: 1) test a range of anesthetic doses of propofol in order to evaluate its ability to produce a positive affective state in the postanesthesia recovery period; and to 2) test the effect of anticannabinoid drug on place preference in unanesthetized animals. We found that the effect of propofol on postanesthetic place preference was not as robust as we expected. We also found that the anticannabinoid drug itself had no appreciable effect on place preference. These results falling short of our expectations so far may be explained by the fact that reliable and reproducible protocols for the induction of postanesthetic place preference have not yet been established in mice and our place preference-inducing protocols may, therefore, need to be refined and fine-tuned before reaching a definitive conclusion.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
At the start of the third year of research we were already one year behind the schedule due to the failure of the dealer company to timely provide a properly made and ready-to-use piece of equipment (CPP box) necessary for the conduction of the place preference test. After having to participate in the designing and testing of the trial version of the CPP box, we finally received its properly made version (or at least what it appears to be) in June, 2016, and, therefore were able to proceed with the experiments. During the year concerned we 1) tested a range of anesthetic doses of propofol in order to evaluate its ability to produce a positive affective state in the postanesthesia recovery period and also 2) tested the effect of anticannabinoid drug on place preference in unanesthetized animals. Because of the above-mentioned delay in equipment delivery we applied for and have been granted a one-year prolongation permit for conducting this research project.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Our research is the first attempt to establish a place preference-inducing protocol in experimental mice recovering from propofol anesthesia. Contrary to expectations, our tentatively chosen experimental protocol failed to produce robust and convincing effect during the recovery phase of propofol anesthesia. Therefore, the protocol will require some modifications and fine-tuning before reaching a final conclusion. Also, due to the above-mentioned reasons that were beyond our control and caused a delay in the continuation of the project, the research plan will have to be limited to the investigation of the effect of propofol on the emotional function only, leaving the study of the its effect on cognitive function for the future.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The amount for the fiscal year concerned has not been completely used due to reasons beyond our control (delay in the delivery of experimental equipment) that resulted in prolongation of the research period.
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
The remaining amount will be used in the fourth year of this research project for purchasing of the materials (animals and reagents) necessary for the study, for covering language proof-editing fees, etc.
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