• Xiao-Lan Qian, Wei Zhang, Ming-Zheng Liu, Yu-Bing Zhou, Jing-Min Zhang, Li Han, You-Mei Peng, Jin-hua Jiang, and Qing-Duan Wang.
• Henan Key Laboratory for Pharmacology of Liver Diseases, Academy of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 40 Daxue Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, China; The Third People Hospital of Henan Province, 98 Funiu Road, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
• Eur. J. Pharmacol. 2015 Jan 5;746:206-12.

AbstractPostoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a frequent complication following major surgery in the elderly. However, the exact pathogenic mechanisms are still unknown. Dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha 2 adrenal receptor agonist, was revealed anesthesia and brain protective role. The present study aimed to examine whether dexmedetomdine protects against POCD induced by major surgical trauma under general anesthesia in aged mice. In the present study, cognitive function was assessed by Y-maze. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), apoptosis-related factor caspase-3 and Bax were detected by real-time PCR, Western blot or immunohistochemistry. The results showed that anesthesia alone caused weak cognitive dysfunction on the first day after general anesthesia. Cognitive function in mice with splenectomy under general anesthesia was significantly exacerbated at the first and third days after surgery, and was significantly improved by dexmedetomidine administration. Splenectomy increased the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, Bax and caspase-3 in hippocampus. These changes were significantly inversed by dexmedetomidine. These results suggest that hippocampal inflammatory response and neuronal apoptosis may contribute to POCD, and selective alpha 2 adrenal receptor excitation play a protective role.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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