Gastrodin ameliorates postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged mice by promoting nuclear translocation of Nrf2 through activation of AMPK

Perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) remains a prevalent complication following anesthesia and surgery. Recent studies have revealed the therapeutic potential of gastrodin (GAS) in treating cognitive disturbances. This study delves deeper into the mechanisms through which GAS impacts PND. Male C57BL/6 mice (18 months old) underwent laparotomies and were administered GAS orally daily for three weeks preceding surgery and one week post-surgery. Thirty minutes before GAS administration, an intraperitoneal injection of Compound C was given. In vitro, H2O2-incubated SH-SY-5Y cells, with or without Nrf2-siRNA transfection, were set up and subjected to GAS or Compound C treatments. Cell viability was assessed via MTT assays, and apoptosis levels were assessed through flow cytometry. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze, novel object recognition, and Y-maze tests. Oxidative stress markers, including MDA, SOD, GSH, GSH-px, and intracellular ROS (determined through immunofluorescence), were quantified. The expression of the genes Caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, GST, and NQO1 was gauged using real-time RT-PCR. Brain, cortex and hippocampal pathologies were examined with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and NeuN/TUNEL costaining. Finally, Nrf2 and p-AMPK were analyzed using Western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence assays. GAS improved cognitive dysfunction in PND mice and reduced oxidative stress, neuro-apoptosis, and ROS levels both in vivo and in vitro experiment. In vivo, Immunofluorescence and Western blot outcomes indicated that postoperative p-AMPK and Nrf2 levels in the hippocampus were mitigated but were augmented by GAS. In vitro studies revealed GAS's protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and its upregulation of p-AMPK and Nrf2 in SH-SY-5Y cells. Notably, this protective effect was negated when Nrf2 siRNA was introduced. ELISA and PCR results highlighted the role of GAS in enhancing GST and NQO1 activity in both the mice hippocampus and SH-SY-5Y cells. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, both in vitro and in vivo, reversed the beneficial effects of GAS on Nuc-Nrf2/Cyt-Nrf2 expression and counteracted the positive influence of GAS on cognitive functions in PND mice. GAS facilitates the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 via AMPK activation, offering a therapeutic avenue for alleviating postoperative cognitive impairments in mice, with a significant reduction in oxidative stress.