Hypoxia aggravates propofol-induced hippocampal neuron injury in immature SD rats through ferroptosis

Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxia combined with propofol on immature Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat hippocampal neurons through ferroptosis. Methods A total of 168 7-day-old SD rats (half male and half female, 15.59±1.13 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=28): lipid emulsion solvent+50% oxygen (CO), lipid emulsion solvent+air (CA), lipid emulsion solvent+18% oxygen (CH), propofol+50% oxygen (PO), propofol+air (PA), and propofol+18% oxygen (PH) groups.The rats in the propofol group were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg propofol, and those in the lipid emulsion group were intraperitoneally injected with 5 mL/kg lipid emulsion, once a day for 7 consecutive days.After injection, the mice were put into warm chambers with oxygen concentration of 50%, 21% and 18%(38℃) respectively.After the righting reflex recovered, the mice were immediately put back into the normoxic environment for feeding by their mothers.The respiratory rate (RR) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) of immature SD rats were o