The effects of prolonged exposure to isoflurane on the morphology of the astrocytes in the cortex and the memory and learning ability of neonate rats
ZHONG Min
LI Zhi-peng
LIU Chui-liang
LIN Ming
XIAO Jian-bin
Abstract：Objective To evaluate the effects of prolonged exposure to isoflurane on the morphology of the astro-cytes in the cortex and the memory and learning ability of neonate rats.Methods Seven-days-old littermates ( n=43) of Wistar rats were randomly assigned to isoflurane group (Group I) and control group (Group C).Both groups expe-rienced either 6-hour exposure to 1.1%isoflurane or air with 30%oxygen.Five rats in each group were euthanized 12 h, 24 h, 3 d and 7 d after exposure.Brain sections were stained with glial fibrillary acidic protein markers.Astrocytes was classified and quantified in the cortex according to the morphology by the Image J programme.Spatial memory and learning ability were examined in the Morris Water Maze.Results The activated astrocytes were significantly reduced in subjects exposed to isoflurane at 12 h and 24 h in the cortex region (P<0.05), while the depressed astrocytes were increase at 12 h ( P<0.05 ) .There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups according to the spatial reference memory and learning ability.Conclusion Prolonged isoflurane exposure of neonate rats evokes an transiently decrease of activation of the astrocytes and increase of depressed astrocytes, however does not impair the juvenile memory and learning ability.
Keywords：isofluraneastrocyteglial fibrillary acidic proteinMorris Water Maze
Publication Date：2014-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 2659-2661 )