ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanisms of pioglitazone on post operative cognitive function induced by surgery in elderly rats.Methods Elderly SD rats,male and weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into control group (group Con),surgery group (group S),pioglitazone group (group P)and pioglitazone/surgery group (group PS).The level of glycemia was measured by glucometer after completing the surgical model.The expression of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs)in hippocampal tissues was detected by western blot and reactive oxy-gen species (ROS)and IL-6 by ELISA 1 2 h after surgery.Morris water maze was used for evaluation of cognitive function 4 days after surgery.Results Compared with group Con,group S showed a sig-nificant increase in the expression of AGEs and IL-6 and the level of ROS (P<0.05);Compared with group S,the expression of AGEs and IL-6 and the level of ROS decreased significantly in group PS (P<0.05).Compared to group Con,the surgery increased the average time of escape latencies on the 8th days and 10th days after surgery and reduced the platform-crossing times in the Morris water maze test (P<0.05).Compared with group S,group PS showed a significant decrease in the average time of escaping latencies on the 10th day after surgery (P<0.05),and an increased platform-cross-ing times in the Morris water maze test (P<0.05).Conclusion These results suggest that pioglita-zone attenuates postoperative cognitive function and its mechanism may be related to the decrease of the expression of AGEs and IL-6 and the level of ROS.