# Anesthesia-induced learning deficiency and brain hyperoxia

> **NIH NIH R01** · ENDEAVOR HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS · 2020 · $298,045

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Cognitive damage induced by anesthesia delivered in the course of surgery and other clinical
procedures has been the focus of increasing attention in recent years. A growing body of
literature has established that anesthesia can potentially lead to pathological effects including
increased apoptosis and disruption of myelin formation, ultimately resulting in learning
deficiencies. However, the mechanisms underlying these anesthesia-induced changes are not
well understood. We have reported previously that isoflurane anesthesia significantly increases
the oxygen level in brain tissue compared to the awake state. Oxidative stress is a well-
established source of neurotoxicity which is known to induce neuronal and glial cell death and
can disrupt myelin formation. Brain hyperoxia could therefore play a key role in explaining the
learning impairments associated with anesthesia. The proposed study will examine the
relationship between anesthesia, brain oxygen level, and structural, biochemical, and behavioral
measures of pathology. In Aim 1, we will characterize oxygen, electrophysiological responses,
and reactive oxygen species under two common inhaled anesthetics (isoflurane and
sevoflurane,) in air and in 80% oxygen. In Aim 2, we will evaluate the effect of anesthesia
exposure on behavioral learning. In Aim 3, we will evaluate the structural and biochemical
changes in brain induced by anesthesia exposure. These studies will provide a deeper
understanding of the physiology of anesthesia and its relationship with oxygen levels in the
brain. Behavioral, MRI, oxygen, and electrophysiological measurements will provide information
on the short- and long-term influence of anesthesia/hyperoxia on brain structure and cognition.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9931236
- **Project number:** 5R01GM112715-05
- **Recipient organization:** ENDEAVOR HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniil Aksenov
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $298,045
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-15 → 2021-09-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9931236

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9931236, Anesthesia-induced learning deficiency and brain hyperoxia (5R01GM112715-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9931236. Licensed CC0.

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