Environmental Enrichment Attenuated Sevoflurane-Induced Neurotoxicity through the PPAR-γ Signaling Pathway

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:107149. doi: 10.1155/2015/107149. Epub 2015 Jul 6.

Abstract

Sevoflurane is the most widely used inhaled anesthetic. Environmental enrichment (EE) can reverse sevoflurane-induced learning and memory impairment in young mice. However, the mechanism by which EE elicits this effect is unclear. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) regulatory pathway plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation in central nervous system diseases. In this study, we investigated whether EE attenuates sevoflurane-induced learning and memory disability via the PPAR signaling pathway. Six-day-old mice were treated with 3% sevoflurane for 2 hours daily from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P8. Then, the mice were treated with EE. The effects of sevoflurane on learning and memory function, PPAR-γ expression in the brain, and the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells and 5-bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells in the hippocampus were determined. Sevoflurane induced neuronal apoptosis and neurogenesis inhibition, which may impair learning and memory in young mice. Furthermore, sevoflurane downregulated PPAR-γ expression. Both EE and the PPAR-γ agonist, rosiglitazone, attenuated sevoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis, neurogenesis inhibition, and learning and memory impairment. Our findings suggest that EE ameliorated sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and learning and memory impairment through the PPAR-γ signaling pathway. PPAR-γ may be a potential therapeutic target for preventing or treating sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Environment*
  • Male
  • Memory Disorders / complications
  • Memory Disorders / metabolism
  • Methyl Ethers / adverse effects*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neurogenesis / drug effects
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / complications
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / metabolism*
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes / pathology
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism*
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Sevoflurane
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Thiazolidinediones / pharmacology

Substances

  • Methyl Ethers
  • PPAR gamma
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Rosiglitazone
  • Sevoflurane