Anesthesiology
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In animal models, exposure to general anesthetics induces widespread increases in neuronal apoptosis in the developing brain. Subsequently, abnormalities in brain functioning are found in adulthood, long after the anesthetic exposure. These abnormalities include not only reduced learning abilities but also impaired social behaviors, suggesting pervasive deficits in brain functioning. But the underlying features of these deficits are still largely unknown. ⋯ In an animal model, sevoflurane exposure in the developing brain caused serious impairment of maternal behaviors when fostering their pups, suggesting pervasive impairment of brain functions including innate behavior essential to species survival.