Postoperative impairment of cognitive function in rats: a possible role for cytokine-mediated inflammation in the hippocampus

Y Wan, J Xu, D Ma, Y Zeng, M Cibelli… - The Journal of the …, 2007 - pubs.asahq.org
Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is being increasingly reported as a
complication. The authors investigated the role of cytokine-mediated inflammation within the
central nervous system in the development of cognitive dysfunction in a rat model. Methods
Adult rats were subjected to neuroleptic anesthesia (20 microg/kg fentanyl plus 500
microg/kg droperidol, intraperitoneal) for splenectomy or no surgery. On postanesthetic days
1, 3, and 7, cognitive function was assessed in a Y maze. To evaluate the immune response …