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Published on: September 24, 2020
α-Lipoic acid inhibits sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis through PI3K/Akt signalling pathway
Rong Ma1, Xiang Wang2, Peipei Peng1
1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), Nanjing, 210029, China.
Insights
Sevoflurane anesthesia can cause long-term cognitive impairment in young rats by inducing brain cell apoptosis. Alpha-lipoic acid may protect against this neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- General anesthesia with sevoflurane is common in pediatric patients.
- Concerns exist regarding potential sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity, particularly in infants and children.
- General anesthesia may trigger brain cell apoptosis, impacting cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuroprotective effects of alpha-lipoic acid against sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and cognitive impairment.
- To elucidate the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in sevoflurane's neurotoxic effects.
Main Methods:
- Morris water maze test for cognitive function assessment.
- Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to evaluate neuronal apoptosis and signaling pathways.
- Animal model using young rats exposed to sevoflurane.
Main Results:
- Sevoflurane exposure resulted in long-term cognitive impairment in young rats.
- Neuronal death in the hippocampus, mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway, was observed.
- Alpha-lipoic acid administration mitigated sevoflurane-induced cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- Sevoflurane anesthesia can lead to cognitive dysfunction and neuronal apoptosis in young animals.
- Alpha-lipoic acid demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent to prevent sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity.
- Targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway and utilizing alpha-lipoic acid may offer a strategy for managing anesthesia-related cognitive impairment.
Abstract:
Sevoflurane is a widely used anaesthetic agent, including in anaesthesia of children and infants. Recent studies indicated that the general anaesthesia might cause the cell apoptosis in the brain. This issue raises the concerns about the neuronal toxicity induced by the application of anaesthetic agents, especially in the infants and young children. In this study, we used Morris water maze, western blotting and immunohistochemistry to elucidate the role of α-lipoic acid in the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis. We found that sevoflurane led to the long-term cognitive impairment in the young rats. This adverse effect may be caused by the neuronal death in the hippocampal region, mediated through PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. We also showed that α-lipoic acid offset the effect of sevoflurane on the neuronal apoptosis and cognitive dysfunction. This study elucidated the potential clinical role of α-lipoic acid, providing a promising way in the prevention and treatment of long-term cognitive impairment induced by sevoflurane general anesthesia.
