Lifetime behavioural changes after exposure to anaesthetics in infant rats.
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acute use of general anaesthetic with or without a surgical procedure, at post-natal day 14 (P14), on behavioural responses in the short-, medium- and long-term, evaluated in open field (OF) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests. Fourteen-day-old male Wistar rats were divided into two experimental designs (ED): inhalation and intravenous anaesthetic, and these groups were subdivided into: 1st ED - control (C), isoflurane (ISO), isoflurane/surgery (ISO-SUR); 2nd ED - control (C), fentanyl/S(+)-ketamine (FK) and fentanyl+ketamine-s/surgery (FK-SUR). In the OF the following were found: (a) in the 1st ED: an increase in the locomotor activity in the ISO group at P14, and ISO and ISO-SUR groups at P30; the ISO-SUR group showed a reduced latency to leave the first quadrant at P30 and P60; (b) in the 2nd ED: FK and FK-SUR groups presented increased locomotor activity at P30, and the FK group showed a reduction in the number of faecal boluses. In the EPM the following were found: FK and FK-SUR groups presented an increase in the number of non-protected head-dipping (NPHD) movements and in the number of entries and time spent in open arms at P30; the FK group showed an increased number of protected head-dipping movements, NPHD and entries and time spent in the open arms at P60. The behavioural changes observed may be related to locomotor activity (1st ED) and anxiety level (2nd ED) and they may result from changes in neurotransmitters/hormones (DA, 5HT, CRH) and glutamate/NMDA receptors, respectively.
Post Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences (ICBS), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Liciane Fernandes
LF
Medeiros
Joanna Ripoll
JR
Rozisky
Andressa
A
de Souza
Maria Paz
MP
Hidalgo
Carlos Alexandre
CA
Netto
Wolnei
W
Caumo
Ana Maria Oliveira
AM
Battastini
Iraci Lucena da Silva
IL
Torres
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013995:Time
D000777:Anesthetics; D007649:Ketamine; D007530:Isoflurane; D005283:Fentanyl