Involvement of HIPK2 ‐JNK/c‐Jun cascade in the long term synaptic toxicity and cognition impairment induced by neonatal Sevoflurane exposure

AbstractSevoflurane is one of the most widely used anesthetics with recent concerns rising about its pediatric application. The synaptic toxicity and mechanisms underlying its long term cognition impairment remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the expression and roles of homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2), a stress activating kinase involved in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, and its downstream JNK/c ‐Jun signaling in the long term toxicity of neonatal Sevoflurane exposure. Our data showed that neonatal Sevoflurane exposure results in impairment of memory, enhancement of anxiety, less number of excitatory synapses and lower levels of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus of adult rats without s ignificant changes of hippocampal neuron numbers. Up‐regulation of HIPK2 and JNK/c‐Jun was observed in hippocampal granular neurons shortly after Sevoflurane exposure and persisted to adult. A64, antagonist of HIPK2, could significantly rescue the cognition impairment, decrease of long term pote ntiation, reduction of spine density and activation of JNK/c‐Jun induced by Sevoflurane. JNK antagonist SP600125 partially restored synapse development and cognitive function without affecting the expression of HIPK2. These data, in together, revealed a novel role of HIPK2‐JNK/c‐Jun signaling in the long term synaptic toxicity and cognition impairment of neonatal Sevoflurane exposure, indicating HIPK2‐JNK/c‐Jun cascade as a potential targ...
Source: Journal of Neurochemistry - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research