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Published on: August 25, 2014
Short- and long-term effects of single neonatal exposure to propofol anesthesia on cognitive function
Shilei Liu1, Min Feng2, Zhijing Shan1
1Department of Anesthesiology, The Tongliao People's Hospital, China.
Insights
Neonatal propofol anesthesia did not affect neurocognitive function in mice. Studies show single exposure at postnatal day 12 had no long-term impact on learning and memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Neonatal anesthesia exposure is a growing concern for potential neurodevelopmental effects.
- Propofol is a commonly used anesthetic agent in pediatric procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the short- and long-term neurocognitive effects of a single neonatal propofol exposure.
- To assess the impact on learning, memory, and hippocampal synaptic function.
Main Methods:
- Institute of Cancer Research mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of propofol or a fat emulsion at postnatal day 12.
- Neurocognitive function was assessed at 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks using novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests.
- Hippocampal histopathology, synaptic morphology, and key protein expression (CREB, BDNF, PSD95) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in learning and memory tests between propofol-exposed and control groups.
- Histological examination revealed no hippocampal pathological changes or alterations in dendritic structure.
- Expression levels of CREB, BDNF, and PSD95 remained unchanged in the hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- A single neonatal exposure to propofol anesthesia does not appear to impair recognition function in the short or long term.
- Neonatal propofol administration did not induce detectable neurobiological changes in the hippocampus.
- These findings suggest propofol may be safe for single neonatal exposure regarding neurocognitive outcomes.
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the short- and long-term effects of neonatal single exposure to propofol anesthesia on neurocognitive function.MethodsInstitute of Cancer Research mice were intraperitoneally injected with fat emulsion or propofol at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg once at postnatal day 12. At 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks following anesthesia, learning and memory abilities were evaluated using the novel object recognition and Morris water maze experiments. Histopathology and synaptic function of the hippocampus were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin and Golgi-Cox staining, and the expression levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) in the hippocampus were detected using western blotting.ResultsThere was no significant difference in total exploration time, recognition index, and time and crossings in the target quadrant between the control and propofol-exposed groups. No hippocampal pathological change and abnormal dendritic length or spine density were observed. Furthermore, no significant alterations in the expression levels of CREB, BDNF, or PSD95 were detected.ConclusionsNeonatal single exposure to propofol anesthesia does not impair recognition function in either the short- or long-term.
