Different effects of sevoflurane and propofol on cognitive function and neuronal apoptosis in aged rats

• Main Authors: Yu-Hai Xie, Yu-Fang Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editorial Board of Journal of Hainan Medical University 2018-08-01
• Series: Journal of Hainan Medical University
• Subjects: Sevoflurane; Propofol; Cognitive function; Apoptosis
• Online Access: http://www.hnykdxxb.com/PDF/201816/02.pdf
• ISSN: 1007-1237; 1007-1237

Objective: To study the different effects of sevoflurane and propofol on cognitive function and neuronal apoptosis in aged rats. Methods: 19-22-month-old male SD rats were selected as experimental animals and randomly divided into control group, sevoflurane group and propofol group, sevoflurane group were given 2% sevoflurane inhalation and propofol group were given intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg propofol. 7 d and 14 d after intervention, Morris water maze experiment was conducted to evaluate the cognitive function of rats; 14 d after intervention, the brain tissue was isolated to determine the contents of cytokines and the expression of apoptosis genes. Results: The latent period of sevoflurane group and propofol group were longer than that of control group, and the times of original platform crossing were less than those of control group; the latent period of sevoflurane group was shorter than that of propofol group, and the times of original platform crossing were more than those of propofol group; TNF-α and IL-1β contents as well as Bax, CHOP, caspase-3, LC-3 and Beclin-1 mRNA expression in brain tissue of sevoflurane group and propofol group were higher than those of control group whereas HIF-1α, BDNF and VEGF contents were lower than those of control group, and TNF-α and IL-1β contents as well as Bax, CHOP, caspase-3, LC-3 and Beclin-1 mRNA expression in brain tissue of sevoflurane group were lower than those of propofol group whereas HIF-1α, BDNF and VEGF contents were higher than those of propofol group. Conclusion: Both sevoflurane and propofol can cause cognitive impairment and neuronal apoptosis in aged rats, but the damage of sevoflurane is weaker than that of propofol.