Sevoflurane and
propofol are widely used in
pediatric anesthesia. Neurotoxicity of
sevoflurane and
propofol in developing brain has been reported and these effects raise concerns on the usage of the drugs. We investigated the influence of
rutin, a
flavonoid on the neurodegenerative effects of
sevoflurane and
propofol and on memory and cognition in neonatal rodent model. Separate groups of neonatal mice (C57BL/6) were administered with
rutin at 25 or 50 mg/kg
body weight (b.wt) from post natal day 2 (P1) to P21. P7 mice were exposed to 2.9%
sevoflurane and/or
propofol (150 mg/kg b.wt). Neuroapoptosis was assessed by measuring activated
caspase-3 and by
Fluoro-Jade C staining. Plasma S100β levels were detected by ELISA. Morris water maze test was performed to test learning and memory impairments in the animals. General behaviour of the mice was also assessed.
Anesthesia exposure caused severe neuroapoptosis and also raised the levels of plasma S100β. Neuroapoptosis, memory and cognitive deficits observed following
anesthetics were comparatively more profound in mice on exposure to combined
drug (
sevoflurane and
propofol) than in those exposed to either of the
anesthetics.
Rutin at both the doses was effective in reducing the apoptotic cell counts and enhanced the memory and cognitive abilities.
Rutin supplementation offered significant protection against
anesthetic induced neurodegeneration and learning and memory disturbances.