Effects of resveratrol on the cognitive function of neonate rats anesthetized by sevoflurane exposure

Objective To investigate the effect of pretreatment with resveratrol (RES) on the cognitive function of neonate rats anesthetized by sevoflurane (SEVO) exposure. Methods Newborn SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, RES group, SEVO group, SEVO+RES group. SD rats were exposed to 2.5% sevoflurane 2h per day for 3 consecutive days in a self-made anesthesia box to establish a sevoflurane exposure model, and were treated with resveratrol of 30mg/kg or 0.5% DMSO for 30min before the sevoflurane anesthesia. Rats were killed at the P8, and the brain tissues were harvested. The morphological changes of brain tissue were observed by HE staining, the expression of SIRT1, PGC-1α and FOXO3α mRNA in hippocampus was detected by RT-PCR, the expression of SIRT1 and caspase 3 protein in hippocampus was detected by Western blotting, and the changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in hippocampal homogenate were detected by chemical method of SOD and MDA Kits. The Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory function of rats at P30. Results Compared with Control group, the nerve tissue of SEVO group was obviously loose, edema, partial cytoplasm dissolution, nuclear pyknosis, and fragmentation. The nerve tissue of SEVO+RES group also showed cell edema, nuclear pyknosis and other pathological changes in a markedly lighter degree than that in SEVO group. Compared with Control group, the expressions of SIRT1, PGC-1α and FOXO3α mRNA and SOD activity decreased (P0.05). Conclusions Resveratrol could reduce the level of oxidative stress and lighten the brain injury induced by sevoflurane exposure in neonatal rats. However, exposure to sevoflurane couldn't significantly impair the ability of long-term learning and memory of newborn rats, whether they were pretreated with resveratrol or not. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2018.07.11