Sevoflurane anesthesia induced changes in the expression of <i>N</i>-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits in the hippocampus.

<p>Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein expression levels of various receptor subunits in the hippocampi of anesthetized (sev) and non-anesthetized (sham) mice. Changes in expression levels in the sev group are expressed as relative values normalized to the grey values of the sham group. *P<0.05 reveals an upregulation of the <i>N</i>-methyl-D-aspartate receptor type 1 and 2B subunits (NR1 and NR2B) after sevoflurane anesthesia. No other receptor subunit was significantly altered. Example immunoblots are depicted in the insets. NR2A  =  NMDA receptor type 2A subunit; α₂-GABA_A  = α₂ subunit of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor; GluR1, GluR2/3, GluR4  = α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunits 1, 2/3, 4; GluR6/7 =  kainate receptor subunit 6/7, β₂-nAch  = β₂ subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.</p

Mice that underwent a sevoflurane anesthesia showed better cognitive performance.

<p>On days one to eight after undergoing a sevoflurane anesthesia (sev) or sham treatment (sham), cognitive performance and behavorial parameters were assessed using the modified hole board test, a task in which the animals are trained to search for food rewards hidden in marked cylinders. <b>A</b>: Time that each animal required for performing the trial plotted against time. <b>B</b>: Number of marked and baited holes, which were not visited at all during one trial (left) and number of non-marked holes which were visited (right) plotted against time. <b>C</b>: Number of times the mouse enters the board plotted against time. <b>D</b>: Number of times the mouse crossed the marked lines per minute plotted against time. Each group consisted of 24 animals. Each symbol represents averaged data from four trials per day. * p<0.05 reveals better cognitive performance (beginning on day three) and better learning (beginning on day two), as well as an attenuated anxiety-related behavior (beginning on day six) in anesthetized mice.</p

Long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal brain slices of anesthetized and sham-treated mice was not different.

<p>24 h after sevoflurane anesthesia (sev) or sham treatment (sham), brain slices of the animals were prepared and hippocampal LTP was assessed as elevation of field excitatory postsynaptic potential slopes (fEPSP slopes) after high frequency stimulation (HFS). HFS led to an LTP of fEPSP slopes, which was not significantly different between the two groups. Each symbol represents the averaged fEPSP slopes normalized with respect to the 5 min baseline period before HFS. Insets show fEPSP recordings before and 40 min after HFS.</p