Abstract:Objective To investigate the impact of Sevoflurane on spatial memory capacity and expressions of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and amyloid beta (Aβ) in hippocampus of adult rats. Methods Fifty-four adult rats were randomly divided into sev group, con group and blank group. The rats in the sev group inhaled 3.2% Sevoflurane and carrier gas (1L/min O2 plus 1L/min air) for 2 h, those in the con group inhaled carrier gas for 2 h and those in the blank group were bred naturally. In all rats Morris Water Maze experiment was done before modeling and sampletaking.Brain tissues were taken on the 1st day (T1), 3rd day (T3) and 7th day (T7) after modeling, then the levels of mean optical density (MOD) of APOE and Aβ in the CA1, CA3 and DG areas of hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results There was no significant difference between the con group and the sev group in the times across the original platform, the times onto original platform quadrant, the retention time in the original platform quadrant or the percentage of the time retaining in the original platform quadrant at each time point(P > 0.05). Compared with the con group, APOE MOD in each hippocampal area of the sev group reduced at T1 and T3 (P < 0.05), Aβ MOD in each hippocampal area of the sev group increased at T7 (P < 0.05). Conclusions 3.2% Sevoflurane does not damage short-term spatial memory ability of adult rats. 3.2% Sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia inhibits Aβ deposition in hippocampus through down-regulation of APOE expression within 1 week; the 7th day after Sevoflurane anesthesia is a key point for Aβ increase in hippocampus.