Basic studies on neurotoxicity of general anesthetics in the developing brain

Abstract

Animal researches on the toxicity of general anesthetics, mainly include laboratory studies from the rodent and non-human primate species. Basic studies have confirmed that general anesthetics can cause widely apoptosis in vulnerable regions of brain, changes on neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, development of glial cells, and a series of histopathological changes. However, it is still uncertain of the relationship between the histopathological changes and cognitive changes, as well as learning and memory. And basic studies have also confirmed that the outcome of cognition and learning memory disfunction is related to the species of anesthetics, the exposure period, the exposure frequency and other factors. To make a review of recent animal researches on the neurotoxicity of the general anesthetic in fields of histopathology and long-term behavior in the developing period, to further explore the neurotoxic effect of general anesthetics on the development of brain in the development of the brain through animal experiments, and provide a theoretical basis for clinical research. Key words: Anesthetics, general; Developing period; Neurotoxicity; Basic research