Objective To investigate the effect of sevoflurane labor analgesia on hypoxia in neonatal rats based on the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
Methods The model group and sevoflurane group were given a model of labor asphyxia. The model group was given 50% oxygen by volume, and the sevoflurane group was given 50% oxygen and 2.5% sevoflurane; the natural delivery group was given natural delivery . The learning and memory ability of the newborn mice was evaluated, and the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampal CA1 region of brain tissue, MAPK and B-cell lymphoma-2 gene ( Bcl-2), Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3) mRNA and protein expression.
Results Compared with the model group, the neonatal mice in the sevoflurane group had longer residence time in the target quadrant, increased platform crossing times, increased serum SOD, decreased MDA, increased number of Nissl bodies in hippocampal CA1 region, and increased Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in brain tissue. The expression level and Bcl-2/Bax increased, while the mRNA and protein expressions of MAPK, Bax, Caspase-3 decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).
Conclusions Sevoflurane labor analgesia can effectively improve the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats, which may play a role in brain protection by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the damage of hippocampal neurons.