Pachypodol protects newborn rats from anaesthesia‐induced apoptosis in the developing brain by regulating the JNK/ERK pathway.

Anaesthesia exposure causes changes in the developing brain and affects behaviour and memory. This study examined the beneficial effect of pachypodol against isoflurane (ISF)‐induced neuronal injury. Seven‐day‐old rats were treated with 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg intravenous pachypodol 30 min before exposure to ISF (0.75%) for 6 h. Oxidative stress and other biochemical parameters were assessed in the brain tissue and serum using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Additionally, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) assay was performed to assess neuronal cell apoptosis in several regions of the hippocampus. Cognitive function and neurological scores were determined in the pachypodol‐treated neuron‐injured rats. Cytokine levels and oxidative stress were reduced in the pachypodol‐treated group compared with the ISF group. In addition, cognitive deterioration was reversed in pachypodol‐treated compared with ISF‐treated rats. Thus, treatment with pachypodol reduced neuronal apoptosis in neuron‐injured rats. Moreover, pachypodol ameliorated changes to the JNK/ERK/Akt pathway in brain‐injured rats. In conclusion, pachypodol treatment prevents neuronal apoptosis in ISF‐treated rats by regulating the JNK/ERK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]