Effects of different concentrations and different duration of sevoflurane anesthesia on cognitive function in mice

Objective To evaluate the effects of different concentrations and different duration of sevoflurane anesthesia on cognitive function in mice. Methods Fifty adult male C57BL/6 mice, weighing 20-24 g, aged 10 weeks, were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=10 each)using a random number table: control group(group C), 1.3% sevoflurane inhaled for 0.5 h group(group S1), 1.3% sevoflurane inhaled for 2.0 h group(group S2), 2.5% sevoflurane inhaled for 2.0 h group(group S3), and 2.5% sevoflurane inhaled for 4.0 h group(group S4). At 2 weeks after anesthesia, Morris water maze test was performed, and the escape latency and frequency of crossing the original platform were recorded.After the end of the test, the mice were sacrificed, and brains were removed to detect the expression of 2B subunit-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors(NR2B)and activated caspase-3 in the hippocampus. Results Compared with group C, the escape latency was significantly shortened, and the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased in S1-3 groups, and the escape latency was prolonged, and no significant change was found in the frequency of crossing the original platform in group S4.Compared with group C, the expression of NR2B in hippocampal tissues was up-regulated in S1-4 groups, and the expression of activated caspase-3 in hippocampal tissues was up-regulated in S3 and S4 groups. Conclusion The reason for different effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on cognitive function is related to the concentration and duration in mice. Key words: Anesthetics, inhalation; Dose-response relationship, drug; Time factors; Cognition