Neuroprotective properties of vitamin C on equipotent anesthetic concentrations of desflurane, isoflurane, or sevoflurane in high fat diet fed neonatal mice.

Obesity has been reported to be one of the significant contributors to various chronic disease conditions. Childhood obesity has been on an alarming increase over recent years leading to various health complications. Millions of children undergo surgery each year as a part of medical care on various health grounds. In the present study, influence of vitamin C on the effect of obesity and over-weight under anaesthetic exposure was analysed. Separate groups of neonatal mice (C57BL/6) were fed on high-fat diet to induce obesity. The mice were administered with vitamin C at 30 and 60 mg/kg b.wt post natal day 1 (P1) to P21. P7 mice were exposed to equipotent doses of isoflurane or sevoflurane or desflurane. Neuroapoptosis was assessed by measuring activated caspase-3 and TUNEL assay. Plasma S100β levels were detected by ELISA. The mice were assessed for their general behaviour. Morris water maze test was performed to assess the spatial working memory. Anesthesia exposure caused severe neuroapoptosis and also raised the levels of plasma S100β. Neuroapotosis, working memory and learning impairments observed following anesthetics were comparatively more profound on high fat diet fed mice. Desflurane exposure resulted in higher apoptotic counts, learning and memory deficits than equipotent dose of isoflurane and sevoflurane. Vitamin C supplementation offered significant protection against anesthetic induced neurotoxicity and behavioural alterations. Vitamin C administration resulted in marked reduction in neurotoxicity induced by anesthesia and as well improved learning and memory of both normal and high fat diet fed mice.