Relationship between sevoflurane-induced cognitive decline and α1A norepinephrine receptor in cerebral cortex of rats

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sevoflurane-induced cognitive decline and α1A norepinephrine receptor(ADRA1A) in the cerebral cortex of rats. Methods Forty-eight clean-grade healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats(24 male, 24 female), weighing 220-260 g, aged 3-4 months old, were divided into 2 groups(n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group(group C) and sevoflurane group(S group). Group S inhaled 3% sevoflurane for 5 h. Rats underwent the Barnes maze test on days 1 and 7 after anesthesia. Rats were sacrificed immediately after anesthesia and on days 1 and 7 after anesthesia, and the cerebral cortex was removed for determination of the expression of ADRA1A protein and mRNA(by Western blot or fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction). Results Compared with group C, the number of entering incorrect holes was significantly increased, and the latency of entering the target hole and the distance were prolonged, and the expression of ADRA1A protein and mRNA in cerebral cortex was down-regulated at each time point in group S(P<0.05). Conclusion The mechanism of sevoflurane-induced cognitive decline is related to down-regulated expression of ADRA1A in the cerebral cortex of rats. Key words: Anesthetics, inhalation; Cognitive disorders; Receptors, adrenergic, alpha-1; Cerebral cortex