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Gut microbiota mediates cognitive impairment in young mice after multiple neonatal exposures to sevoflurane
Meiyu Liu1,2, Shaoyong Song1, Qingcai Chen1
1Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Insights
Repeated anesthesia exposure in newborns may harm cognitive development. This study shows sevoflurane alters gut bacteria, causing cognitive deficits in mice, suggesting a link between gut microbiota and neurotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Developmental Toxicology
Background:
- Anesthesia exposure in early life is a potential risk factor for cognitive impairment.
- The underlying mechanisms, particularly the role of gut microbiota, are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of multiple sevoflurane exposures on gut microbiota in neonatal mice.
- To determine if microbiota alterations contribute to sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment.
Main Methods:
- Neonatal mice were exposed to sevoflurane multiple times.
- Cognitive function was assessed.
- Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using sequencing.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation was performed to establish causality.
Main Results:
- Sevoflurane exposure led to cognitive impairment and significant changes in gut microbiota composition.
- Fecal transplantation from exposed mice to naive mice replicated cognitive deficits.
- Specific bacterial taxa, including Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae, were differentially abundant and linked to cognitive health.
Conclusions:
- Alterations in gut microbiota composition are a key factor in sevoflurane-induced cognitive impairment in young mice.
- Targeting the gut microbiota may offer a therapeutic strategy for sevoflurane-related neurotoxicity.
Abstract:
Multiple exposures to anesthesia may increase the risk of cognitive impairment in young children. However, the mechanisms underlying this neurodevelopmental disorder remain elusive. In this study, we investigated alteration of the gut microbiota after multiple neonatal exposures to the anesthetic sevoflurane and the potential role of microbiota alteration on cognitive impairment using a young mice model. Multiple neonatal sevoflurane exposures resulted in obvious cognitive impairment symptoms and altered gut microbiota composition. Fecal transplantation experiments confirmed that alteration of the microbiota was responsible for the cognitive disorders in young mice. Microbiota profiling analysis identified microbial taxa that showed consistent differential abundance before and after fecal microbiota transplantation. Several of the differentially abundant taxa are associated with memory and/or health of the host, such as species of Streptococcus, Lachnospiraceae, and Pseudoflavonifractor. The results reveal that abnormal composition of the gut microbiota is a risk factor for cognitive impairment in young mice after multiple neonatal exposures to sevoflurane and provide insight into a potential therapeutic strategy for sevoflurane-related neurotoxicity.
