Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
[Dexmedetomidine alleviates cognitive dysfunction induced by tibial fracture in rats]
Jinwei Zhang1, Xiaobao Zhang2, Haitao Qian2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China.
Objective:
To study the effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on cognitive dysfunction induced by tibial fracture in rats.
Methods:
Sixteen male SD rats were randomized into control group and tibial fracture group, and the behavior indicators were measured on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after tibial fracture and the expressions of CX3L1 protein and mRNA in the hippocampus were detected. Another 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, tibial fracture group, and tibia fracture with CX3CL1 antibody group, and the behavior indicators and hippocampal CX3L1 protein expression were evaluated after corresponding treatments. In another experiment, we randomized 24 male SD rats into control group, tibial fracture group and tibial fracture with Dex treatment, and tested their hippocampal CX3L1 protein and mRNA expressions as well as the behavior indicators after the treatments.
Results:
Compared with the control rats, the rats with tibial fracture spent significantly less time in the novel arm on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after the fracture (P < 0.05) with obviously lowered expressions of CX3L1 protein and mRNA in the hippocampus (P < 0.05). In the rats with tibial fracture, treatment with CX3CL1 antibody further decreased the time spent in the novel arm (P < 0.05) and the expression level of CX3L1 protein in the hippocampus (P < 0.05); In contrast, treatment with Dex significantly increased the time spent time in the novel arm (P < 0.05) and enhanced the hippocampal expressions of CX3L1 protein and mRNA in rats with tibial fractures (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Dex can alleviate cognitive dysfunction induced by tibial fracture in rats by increasing the expression of CX3CL1 in the hippocampus.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Dissonance
Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
Language and Cognition
Cognitive Therapy
Cognition and Behavior
Cognitive Learning
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...

