Yao Y, et al. - Researchers investigated the effects of propofol and etomidate anesthesia on miRNA expression profiles in the heart and blood vessels in rats. The rats were randomized to either propofol or etomidate groups. Throughout the anesthesia process, spontaneous breathing was maintained and the rats’ oxygen supply was ensured. The investigators observed different effects of propofol and etomidate on the expression of cardiovascular miRNAs. Microarray analysis in the propofol group vs the etomidate group revealed 16 differentially expressed miRNAs in heart tissue and 25 altered miRNAs in the blood vessels. Between the two groups, the expression of 5 miRNAs in vessel tissue differed remarkably after verifying 12 representative miRNAs via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association of the target genes of the five differentially expressed miRNAs with chemical synapse signaling pathways was predicted by bioinformatics analysis.