Effects of propofol anesthesia on cognitive function of aged rats / 国际生物医学工程杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol anesthesia on cognitive function of aged rats. Methods Ninety-six male aged SD rats (16 months) were collected and given propofol anesthesia via tail vein catheter. At 7, 30, and 90 d after anesthesia, fear conditioning experiment was performed to test long-term memory of the aged rats (12 rats at each time point, total 36 rats). At 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 d after anesthesia, spontaneous alternation in Y-maze experiment was performed to test spatial working memory of the aged rats (12 rats at each time point, total 60 rats). Results There were no statistical differences in long-term memory at 7, 30, and 90 d after anesthesia between the propofol group and control group (P>0.05). While spatial working memory of aged rats in propofol group was impaired at 1 and 2 d after anesthesia (P0.05). Conclusions These results indicate that clinical dose propofol anesthesia will not induce long-term memory impairment of aged rats, although it impairs spatial working memory of aged rats within 48 h after anesthesia.