Fig. 6

Improvement of sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction by inhibition of sialidase through decreasing neuronal synapse loss. A Representative confocal images of Vglut2 (green) and PSD95 (red) in the hippocampus of control and sevoflurane-treated mice with PBS or NADNA treatment. Scale bars = 5 μm. B Quantification analysis showed that NADNA treatment increased the density of Vglut2⁺ puncta, PSD95⁺ puncta, and synapses compared to treatment with sevoflurane and PBS. n = 6. One-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey’s test. C Representative Western blot bands of Vglut2 and PSD95 in the four groups. D Compared to treatment with sevoflurane and PBS, NADNA up-regulated Vglut2 and PSD95 expression. n = 3. One-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey’s test. E Representative Golgi-Cox staining images of dendrite spines in the four groups. Scale bars = 5 μm. F Quantification analysis showed that NADNA treatment increased the spine density compared to treatment with sevoflurane and PBS. n = 6. One-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey’s test. G Tracking plots of mice in the Morris water maze test in the four groups. H NADNA treatment reduced the escape latency compared to treatment with sevoflurane and PBS. n = 8. Two-way RM ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey’s test. I NADNA treatment increased platform cross times and time spent in the target quadrant compared to treatment with sevoflurane and PBS. n = 8. One-way ANOVA followed by a post hoc Tukey’s test. Data are mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001