Effects of Atipamezole Preconditioning on Cognitive Function and Protein Expression in Related Brain Regions of Aged Rats after General Anesthesia

To explore the possible mechanism of atipamezole in improving cognitive function after general anesthesia in aged rats, forty-five aged SD rats were separated into control, model, and atipamezole groups. Rats in the model group were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg ketamine plus 5 mg/kg midazolam. Results showed that the escape incubation period of the atipamezole group versus model group on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th days was shortened, residence time of platform quadrant was prolonged on the 5th day, and number of times of crossing platform quadrant was increased. Compared with the control group, the residence time in the central region of the model group was shortened on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days. Atipamezole group's central residence time was prolonged on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days compared to the model group. Concentrations of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in the hippocampus of the atipamezole group decreased significantly compared to the model group. The expressions of p-CREB and c-fos proteins in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens of rats in the atimezazole group were higher than those in the model group. In conclusion, atipamezole preconditioning can reduce cognitive dysfunction in aged rats after general anesthesia, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting hippocampal inflammatory reaction and improving protein expression levels of p-CREB and c-fos in related brain regions of aged rats.