[Rapamycin alleviates cognitive impairment in mice with sepses-associated encephalopathy by promoting autophagy]

Objective To investigate the role of rapamycin in alleviating cognitive dysfunction by promoting autophagy in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Methods The model of SAE mice was established by caecal ligation and perforation (CLP). Murine sepsis score (MSS) was used to evaluate the severity of sepsis in SAE mice. And the cognitive function was tested by the contextual fear conditioning test. The expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and P62 in the hippocampus of the SAE mice were detected by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of LC3 in the hippocampal neurons were observed by immunofluorescence. Results The mortality of CLP-induced mice reached 41.7% with 14 days after the procedure, and significant cognitive dysfunction was detected in the surviving mice. Meanwhile, autophagy in the hippocampal tissue was impaired 14 days after CLP. The cognitive dysfunction of SAE mice was alleviated by promoting autophagy via rapamycin. Conclusion Rapamycin alleviated the cognitive dysfunction of SAE mice by promoting autophagy in the hippocampal neurons.