Inhibition of the P38 MAPK/NLRP3 pathway mitigates cognitive dysfunction and mood alterations in aged mice after abdominal surgery plus sevoflurane.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction, encompassing perioperative psychological distress and cognitive impairment, is a prevalent postoperative complication within the elderly population, and in severe cases, it may lead to dementia. Building upon our prior research that unveiled a connection between postoperative mood fluctuations and cognitive dysfunction with the phosphorylation of P38, this present investigation aims to delve deeper into the involvement of the P38 MAPK/NLRP3 pathway in perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in an abdominal exploratory laparotomy (AEL) aged mice model.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice (male, 18-month-old) underwent AEL with 3 % anesthesia.