The effect of amantadine on recovery, postoperative cognitive dysfunction and pain after propofol anesthesia in rats

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a neurological disease that is seen in the postoperative period, and long-term memory disorders with marked changes from the base. Amantadine is known for its neuroprotective effects through glutamate inhibition and suppression of neuroinflammation. In our study, the use of amantadine before propofol; we aimed to reveal the effect on recovery time from anesthesia, postoperative cognitive dysfunction and stress-related pain levels. METHODS: 24 BALB/C mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. During the evaluations, 'tail pinch' for recovery, 'hot plate' for stress-related pain level, 'morris water maze' for cognitive functions and 'open field' tests for proving on basal locomotor activities of mice were used. Mice were trained daily in Morris water maze set up for 5 days. On the day of the experiment, Group K, 10 mg/kg 0.9% NaCl, Group P, 75 mg/kg propofol, Group A, 20 mg/kg amantadine, Group AP, 75 mg/kg propofol and 20 mg/kg amantadine were administered intraperitoneally in mice. After the recovery, the hot plate test was applied first, then the mice were placed in the morris water maze device, this moment was determined as 0 hour, 1st, 2nd hours. RESULTS: The recovery times of the subjects were significantly reduced in Group AP compared to Group P [t(10)=14, p<0.001]. Evaluation of hot plate data, when compared with Group K; significantly longer in Group P (p=0.213), Group A (p=0.020), Group AP (p=0.024). According to Morris water maze findings, the time spent target quadrant was compared to Group K, significantly higher in Group A, Group AP (p<0.001), lower in Group P (p<0.001). The distance traveled until reaching the platform, compared to Group K; to be similar to Group A, significantly higher in Group P (p<0.001). Group AP data showed decrease compared to Group P data (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: It was observed that cognitive functions were observed to be significantly better preserved in amantadine groups; supported our hypothesis that POCD, a complication that increases morbidity and mortality rates, can be prevented by using amantadine in individuals at high risk.