Effects of vitamin C on inhalation anesthetic isoflurane-induced developmental, neuronal apoptosis in neonatal rats

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• Isoflurane
• Neuronal apoptosis
• Neurotoxicity
• Vitamin C