Effect of stellate ganglion block on postoperative cognitive function in aged rats / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on the postoperative cognitive function in aged rats.Methods Sixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 18-20 months,weighing 500-700 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =16 each)control group (group C),operation group (group O),normal saline + operation group (group NS) and SGB + operation group (group SGB).Group SGB received right SGB with 0.25％ bupivacaine 0.15 ml,while the equal volume of normal saline was given in group NS.Groups O,SGB and NS underwent 30 min of exploratory laparetomy starting from 15 min after the end of administration.Morris water-maze test was performed at days 1-6 after operation in 10 rats chosen from each group.The escape latency and frequency of crossing the original platform were recorded.Two rats were chosen from each group at 1,2 and 3 d after operation and sacrificed and the hippocampi were removed for microscopic examination.Results Compared with group C,the escape latency wag significantly prolonged on 1-5 days after operation in groups O and NS,the escape latency wag significantly prolonged on 1 and 2 days after operation in group SGB,and the frequency of crossing the original platform was decreased in groups O,NS and SGB (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group NS,the escape latency wag significantly shortened,and the frequency of crossing the original platform was increased on 1-5 days after operation in group SGB (P ＜ 0.05).The number of hippocampal neurons was significantly larger at 2 and 3 d after operation in group SGB than in group NS.Conclusion SGB can improve the postoperative cognitive function in aged rats.