Quantitative assessment of acetyl-carnitine effects on anesthetic-induced neuronal death using micro PET CT imaging

Abstract EN

Co-administration of isoflurane (ISO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) triggers neuronal apoptosis in postnatal day 7 (PND 7) rats.

In this study, the effect of ISO/N2O on neuronal apoptosis in the brains of rats and the potential protective effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on anesthetic-induced neuronal cell death were investigated using microPET/CT imaging.

On PND 7, rat in the experimental group were exposed to ISO/N2O for 8 h with or without ALC, and control rat were exposed to room air.

On PNDs 14, 21, and 28, MicroPET/CT images were obtained with [18F]-DFNSH for 90min.

In PND 14 treated rats, the uptake of [18F]-DFNSH was increased, and the duration of tracer wash-out was prolonged.

The uptake of the tracer was attenuated when they were treated with ALC.

This retention is significant for at least one week after exposure.

ALC blocks retention of DFNSH, suggesting that the anesthetic-induced neuronal apoptosis is also blocked.