The effects of propofol on rat transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials.

INTRAOPERATIVE MONITORING OF motor evoked potentials (MEPs) may become a valuable test of spinal cord function during surgery. Unfortunately, MEP responses are affected by most common anesthetics. We studied the effect of intravenous propofol on transcranial magnetic MEPs (tcMMEPs) in the rat. Baseline tcMMEPs were recorded before administration of the drug. Each rat then received three induction doses of propofol, 10, 5, and 5 mg/kg (totaling 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg) and three successive 20-minute infusion doses at rates of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/h, respectively. An MEP intensity series was performed after each induction dose, during each infusion, and during a 20-minute recovery period. tcMMEPs recorded during the induction period demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent increase in onset latency and a marked decrease in amplitude. Infusion tcMMEPs displayed increased onset latencies but demonstrated a significant change in amplitudes only after the largest infusion dose. The MEPs approached baseline levels after discontinuation of the propofol. This study demonstrates that tcMMEPs can be successfully recorded from the rat during propofol anesthesia.