Enriched environment ameliorates memory impairments in rats after postsurgery sleep deprivation

Postsurgery sleep deprivation is a common complication that severely deteriorates the quality of life of patients. Here we aim to investigate the effects and mechanism of enriched environment in ameliorating sleep deprivation and memory impairments. Hernia repair surgery was performed on rats to induce sleep deprivation. Enriched environment (EE) was used to treat rats with sleep deprivation, and open field and Y-maze tests were performed to compare behavioral parameters of sleep deprivation rats with or without EE treatments to those of normal rats. To understand the mechanism, neurotrophic and growth factors including BDNF, NGF, NT-3 and GDNF were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AMPAR subunits, including GluA1-A3, and GABA_A receptor α1 subunit expression in hippocampus tissues were assessed using western blot. EE restored normal levels of anxiety index and freezing behavior in open field test and level of alternation in Y-maze test, suggesting the reduction of anxiolytic effects and spatial memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation. EE increased BDNF levels and reduced NT-3 levels in sleep deprivation rats. GluA1/GluA2 ratio was increased by EE. GABA_A receptor α1 subunit expression was decreased by EE. EE is effective in ameliorating the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation in spatial memory impairment, and restoring normal levels of neurotrophic factors, which are potentially mediated by attenuating the changes in AMPAR subunit expression and reducing GABA_A receptor α1 subunit expression. These data provide supporting evidences for the use of EE to treat adverse outcomes of sleep deprivation induced by surgery.