Effects of anesthetic sevoflurane on cognitive function in aged rats

Objective To investigate the effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on cognitive function and the expression of acetylcholine in aged rats. Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group,1%sevoflurane group,and 2% sevoflurane group. All rats received anesthesia for 5 days. Cognitive function was tested with Morris water maze. Acetylcholine expression in the hippocampus was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). Results Morris water maze test demonstrated that both latency and the total distance for hidden-platform were significantly decreased in all groups,while the cognitive function in the sevoflurane groups was lower than that of the controls. The latency and total distance for the rats in 1% and 2% sevoflurance groups were significantly lower than those of the rats in the control group at day 4 and day 7 of the treatment( at day 4: F = 11. 10,F = 17. 47; at day 7:F = 49. 23,F = 202. 74; P 0. 01 for all). The expression of acetylcholine in the hippocampus of the sevoflurane groups was significantly lower than that of control group( F = 30. 67 at day 4,F = 24. 38 at day 7; P 0. 01 for all). Conclusion Sevoflurane could impair cognitive function of aged rats through inhibiting the expression of acetylcholine in the hippocampus.