Sevoflurane exposure in the developing brain might be like inviting a mischievous friend to a quiet party. This study investigated how exposing neonatal mice to Sevoflurane, a common anesthetic, affected their later behavior and learning abilities. The results were surprising! The mice who had been exposed to Sevoflurane showed increased hyperactivity, carefree attitudes towards anxiety, and improved memory retention. It’s as if the little mice had taken a shot of energy and turned into social butterflies! Their brains also showed increased synapse density, suggesting possible changes in neuronal connections. Interestingly, the levels of certain proteins related to brain functioning were altered in the sevoflurane-treated mice. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Curious about the fascinating world of anesthesia and brain development? Dive into the full study for more intriguing details!

BackgroundSevoflurane exposure at brain developmental stages has been reported to induce neurotoxicity and, subsequently, results in learning deficits at the juvenile age. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of prior early-age sevoflurane exposure on locomotor activity, anxiety, CA1-dependent learning, and spatial memory, as well as synapse changes in mice.MethodsTotally, 3% sevoflurane was given to neonatal mice at postnatal day 7 for 4 h. These sevoflurane-treated mice were later subjected to open field and Morris water maze tests at their adult age (postnatal days 60–90) to assess their motor activity and spatial learning ability, respectively. The brain slices of sevoflurane-treated and control mice were examined for dendritic spine density and long-term potentiation (LTP) features following behavior tests (postnatal day 60). Protein levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subtypes and PSD95 in brain lysate were measured by using immunoblotting at the same age (postnatal day 60).ResultsPrior early-age sevoflurane exposure increased the overall moving distance, prolonged the central-area lingering time, and increased the central-area entries of adult mice. Sevoflurane-treated mice spent more time in the target quadrant during the probe test. An increase of the spine density of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region was observed in sevoflurane-treated mice. NMDA receptor GluN2A subunit, but not the GluN2B or PSD95, was increased in the brain lysate of sevoflurane-treated mice compared with that of control mice. LTP in the hippocampus did not significantly differ between sevoflurane-treated and control mice.ConclusionExposure to sevoflurane for mice during an early brain developmental stage (P7) induces later-on hyperactivity, anxiety-free, and enhancement of memory retention. These observations shed light on future investigations on the underlying mechanisms of sevoflurane’s effect on neuronal development.

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