Modeling propofol‐induced cardiotoxicity in the isolated‐perfused newborn mouse heart

Infants and children are vulnerable to developing propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) and young age is a risk factor. Cardiac involvement is often prominent and associated with death. However, the mechanisms of pediatric PRIS are poorly understood because of the paucity of investigation and lack of a gold standard animal model. Unfortunately, in vivo modeling of PRIS in a newborn mouse is not feasible and would be complicated by confounders. Thus, we focused on propofol‐induced cardiotoxicity and aimed to develop an ex‐vivo model in the isolated‐perfused newborn mouse heart. We hypothesized that the model would recapitulate the key cardiac features of PRIS seen in infants and children and would corroborate prior in vitro observations. Isolated perfused newborn mouse hearts were exposed to a toxic dose of propofol or intralipid for 30‐min. Surface electrocardiogram, ventricular contractile force, and oxygen extraction were measured over time. Real‐time multiphoton laser imaging was utilized to quantify calcein and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester fluorescence. Propidium iodide uptake was assessed following drug exposure. A toxic dose of propofol rapidly induced dysrhythmias, depressed ventricular contractile function, impaired the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased open probability of the permeability transition pore in propofol‐exposed hearts without causing cell death. These features mimicked the hallmarks of pediatric PRIS and corroborated prior observations made in isolated newborn cardiomyocyte mitochondria. Thus, acute propofol‐induced cardiotoxicity in the isolated‐perfused developing mouse heart may serve as a relevant ex‐vivo model for pediatric PRIS.