The effect of berberine on memory and learning in elderly rats receiving sevoflurane anesthesia

In our study, we aimed to investigate the function of miR-138, miR-138, miR-138, miR-138, mi-138 and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and to examine the neuroprotective effects of berberine in Sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in elderly rats. 56 Sprague-Dawley type male rats aged 20-24 weeks were divided into 4 groups: Control, Berberine, Sevoflurane-Berberine and Sevoflurane, 14 in each group. The control group was exposed to 50% O2 and 50% air at 2lt/min for 6 hours. In the Sevoflurane group, inhalation anesthesia was applied for 6 hours with 3% Sevoflurane, 50% O2 and 50% air 2lt/min gas flow. Berberine was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 150mg/kg daily, starting 1 week before the Sevoflurane anesthesia. Then the Morris Water Tank test, the elevated plus maze test, and the object recognition test were performed. The rats were dislocated and decapitated under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia. Craniotomy was performed and dissection of the hippocampus and frontal lobe regions was performed on 7 randomly selected rats from each group. Brain tissues from the remaining 7 rats were also separated for TUNEL staining. MiR-138, miR-138, miR-138, miR-138, miR-138 and BDNF levels were determined by Real-Time PCR Application in Frontal Lobe, Hippocampus and Plasma samples. BDNF levels were measured by ELISA analysis. It was determined that plasma, frontal and hippocampus miR 9, 124, 132 and BDNF were significantly higher in the berberine group compared to the Sevoflurane group, and statistically less apoptotic bodies were seen in TUNEL staining. There was no difference between the groups in the morris water tank test and the elevated plus maze test. In the new object recognition test, the berberine group had a significantly better new object selection rate compared to the Sevoflurane group. These findings showed that berberine positively affected memory and learning on a molecular basis in the geriatric population, but this situation was not reflected in the clinic.