| Summary: | Developmental abnormalities, neuronal apoptosis and associated cognitive impairment following isoflurane exposure in neonatal rodents have been reported. The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of vitamin C supplementation against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. Seven day old rats were exposed to 1.1% isoflurane, or air for 6 hours. Treatment groups were administered with vitamin C (30 mg/kg, orally) from postnatal day 1 (P1) to P10 and were exposed to isoflurane on P7. Isoflurane exposure induced apoptosis was determined by Fluoro-Jade C and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated 2-deoxyuridine 5-triphosphate nick-end labeling assay. Vitamin C considerably improved memory and learning impairments, modulated neuroapoptosis and improved expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor, Bcl-xL and decreased activated caspase-3 expressions. Thus, vitamin C effectively offered protection against isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis, learning and memory disturbances.
|
|---|