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Infant isoflurane exposure affects social behaviours, but does not impair specific cognitive domains in juvenile non-human primates.
- Source :
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British journal of anaesthesia [Br J Anaesth] 2021 Feb; Vol. 126 (2), pp. 486-499. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Nov 14. - Publication Year :
- 2021
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Abstract
- Background: Clinical studies show that children exposed to anaesthetics for short times at young age perform normally on intelligence tests, but display altered social behaviours. In non-human primates (NHPs), infant anaesthesia exposure for several hours causes neurobehavioural impairments, including delayed motor reflex development and increased anxiety-related behaviours assessed by provoked response testing. However, the effects of anaesthesia on spontaneous social behaviours in juvenile NHPs have not been investigated. We hypothesised that multiple, but not single, 5 h isoflurane exposures in infant NHPs are associated with impairments in specific cognitive domains and altered social behaviours at juvenile age.<br />Methods: Eight Rhesus macaques per group were anaesthetised for 5 h using isoflurane one (1×) or three (3×) times between postnatal days 6 and 12 or were exposed to room air (control). Cognitive testing, behavioural assessments in the home environment, and provoked response testing were performed during the first 2 yr of life.<br />Results: The cognitive functions tested did not differ amongst groups. However, compared to controls, NHPs in the 3× group showed less close social behaviour (P=0.016), and NHPs in the 1× group displayed increased anxiety-related behaviours (P=0.038) and were more inhibited towards novel objects (P<0.001).<br />Conclusions: 5 h exposures of NHPs to isoflurane during infancy are associated with decreased close social behaviour after multiple exposures and more anxiety-related behaviours and increased behavioural inhibition after single exposure, but they do not affect the cognitive domains tested. Our findings are consistent with behavioural alterations in social settings reported in clinical studies, which may guide future research.<br />Competing Interests: Declarations of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Age Factors
Anesthetics, Inhalation administration & dosage
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Anxiety chemically induced
Anxiety physiopathology
Anxiety psychology
Brain physiopathology
Drug Administration Schedule
Exploratory Behavior drug effects
Female
Isoflurane administration & dosage
Macaca mulatta
Male
Motor Activity drug effects
Neurotoxicity Syndromes physiopathology
Neurotoxicity Syndromes psychology
Reaction Time drug effects
Time Factors
Anesthetics, Inhalation toxicity
Behavior, Animal drug effects
Brain drug effects
Cognition drug effects
Isoflurane toxicity
Neurotoxicity Syndromes etiology
Social Behavior
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-6771
- Volume :
- 126
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- British journal of anaesthesia
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33198945
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.10.015