Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
08:17
A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
16.7K
Surgery Trauma Severity but not Anesthesia Length Contributes to Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Mice
Zhongmeng Lai1,2, Jia Min1,3, Jun Li1
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Journal of Alzheimer'S Disease : JAD
|February 1, 2021
Summary
Surgical trauma, not anesthesia, significantly contributes to perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) and neuroinflammation. Splenocytes may play a role in these PND-related processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) are a significant concern.
- Modifiable factors contributing to PND remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of anesthesia duration and surgical trauma extent on PND.
- To assess the role of neuroinflammation in PND development.
Main Methods:
- Mice underwent varying durations of isoflurane anesthesia and surgical procedures (common carotid artery exposure).
- Cognitive function was evaluated using Barnes maze and novel object recognition tests.
- Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β levels were measured in blood, spleen, and hippocampus.
Main Results:
- Prolonged surgery, not anesthesia, impaired learning and memory in young and old mice.
- Long surgery increased IL-6 and IL-1β, decreased spleen weight, and led to splenocyte infiltration in the hippocampus.
- Anesthesia alone or short surgery did not affect cognitive performance or inflammatory markers.
Conclusions:
- Surgical trauma is a key driver of PND and associated neuroinflammation.
- Anesthesia duration alone does not appear to cause PND.
- Splenocytes may be involved in mediating PND and neuroinflammation.
