Korean J Anesthesiol.  2017 Dec;70(6):642-647. 10.4097/kjae.2017.70.6.642.

Multiple exposures of sevoflurane during pregnancy induces memory impairment in young female offspring mice

• Chung W
• Yoon S
• Shin YS

• KMID: 2395674
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2017.70.6.642

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Earlier studies have reported conflicting results regarding long-term behavioral consequences after anesthesia during the fetal period. Previous studies also suggest several factors that may explain such conflicting data. Thus, we examined the influence of age and sex on long-term behavioral consequences after multiple sevoflurane exposures during the fetal period.
METHODS
C57BL/6J pregnant mice received oxygen with or without sevoflurane for 2 hours at gestational day (GD) 14-16. Offspring mice were subjected to behavioral assays for general activity (open field test), learning, and memory (fear chamber test) at postnatal day 30-35.
RESULTS
Multiple sevoflurane exposures at GD 14-16 caused significant changes during the fear chamber test in young female offspring mice. Such changes did not occur in young male offspring mice. However, general activity was not affected in both male and female mice.
CONCLUSIONS
Multiple sevoflurane exposures in the second trimester of pregnancy affects learning and memory only in young female mice. Further studies focusing on diverse cognitive functions in an age-, sex-dependent manner may provide valuable insights regarding anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity.

Keyword

Fetus; Learning; Memory; Pregnancy; Sevoflurane; Toxicity

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Animals
Cognition
Female*
Fetus
Humans
Learning
Male
Memory*
Mice*
Oxygen
Pregnancy Trimester, Second
Pregnancy*
Oxygen