Effect of rapamycin and CQ on sevoflurane-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus analyzed by using TUNEL staining.

<p>(A) Representative photomicrographs showing TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus of aged rats in each group, n = 3. (B) A statistical chart of the ratio of TUNEL-positive cells/total cells, 3 rats in each group and 5 fields were observed in each rat. Data are presented as mean ± SD,*<i>P</i> < 0.05 or **<i>P</i> < 0.01, ^#<i>P</i> > 0.05.</p

Effect of rapamycin and CQ on the mTOR pathway in the hippocampus.

<p>(A) A representative graph of western blot analysis of p-mTOR and mTOR expression in the hippocampus of each group, n = 6. (B) A representative graph of western blot analysis of p-S6K1 and S6K1 expression in the hippocampus of each group, n = 6. Data are presented as mean ± SD. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 or **<i>P</i> < 0.01, ^#<i>P</i> > 0.05.</p

Confirmation of the differences in autophagy in the hippocampal neurons with electron microscopy.

<p>(A)Representative electron micrographs showing autophagic vacuoles in the hippocampus of aged rats in each group, n = 3. (B) Quantitative analysis of the number of autophagic vacuoles per neuron in each group. 3 rats were in each group, and ten cells were examined for each rat. The data are presented as the means±SD. Data are presented as mean ± SD. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 or **<i>P</i> < 0.01.</p

Effect of rapamycin and CQ on sevoflurane-induced memory impairment.

<p>(A) Escape latency (time to find the hidden platform) plotted against training day. Repeated measures ANOVA followed by a post hoc Bonferroni multiple comparison test: CON vs. SEV, <i>P</i> = 0.0002, <i>F</i> = 15.47, n = 9; SEV vs. SEV+RAP, <i>P</i> = 0.0155, <i>F</i> = 6.19, n = 9; SEV vs. SEV+CQ, <i>P</i> = 0.0412, <i>F</i> = 4.55, n = 9; CON vs. RAP, <i>P</i> = 0.0569, <i>F</i> = 0.33, n = 9; CON vs. CQ, <i>P</i> = 0.21, <i>F</i> = 15.47, n = 9. (B) The platform crossing times during the probe trial of the MWM test. (C) The time spent in the target quadrant during the probe test of MWM. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 9). *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> < 0.01, ^#<i>P</i> > 0.05.</p

Confirmation of the differences in autophagy in the hippocampal neurons.

<p>(A) Comparison of LC3 and p62 expression in the hippocampus of aged rats. β-actin was used as an endogenous control. (B) A statistical chart of the relative optical density of p62/β-actin in each group, n = 6. (C) A statistical chart of relative optical density of LC3-II/LC3- I in each group, n = 6. (D) Relative expression of p62 mRNA in each group, n = 6. (E) Relative expression of LC3 mRNA in each group, n = 6. *<i>P</i> < 0.05, **<i>P</i> < 0.01 or ^# <i>P</i> >0.05.</p

Effects of sevoflurane exposure on physiological parameters of arterial blood gas analysis of aged rats.

<p>Effects of sevoflurane exposure on physiological parameters of arterial blood gas analysis of aged rats.</p

Effect of rapamycin and CQ on sevoflurane-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus.

<p>(A) Comparison of Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase3 expression in the hippocampus of aged rats in each group. β-actin was used as an endogenous control. (B) A statistical chart of the relative optical density of cleaved caspase3/β-actin in each group, n = 6. (C) A statistical chart of relative optical density of Bax/β-actin in each group, n = 6. (D) A statistical chart of relative optical density of Bcl-2/β-actin in each group, n = 6. Data are presented as mean ± SD. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 or **<i>P</i> < 0.01, ^#<i>P</i> > 0.05.</p