New research from the Department of Anesthesiology’s Martynyuk Laboratory was highlighted at the 2025 World Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology in Melbourne, Australia, held from June 15-18. Presented by Anatoly Martynyuk, Ph.D., the study explored how exposure to the commonly used anesthetic sevoflurane may influence brain and gut health across generations—findings that contribute to a growing area of research into the long-term effects of anesthesia.
The presentation, titled “Mechanisms and Pharmacological Therapy of Intergenerational Neurocognitive Deficiencies Induced by Exposure to the General Anesthetic Sevoflurane,” was delivered as part of a Featured Communication Session at the conference, which highlighted notable advances in the field. Co-authors on the study included Department of Anesthesiology researchers Ling-Sha Ju, M.D., Ph.D., Zeeshan Khan, Ph.D., Nikolaus Gravenstein, M.D., and the Department of Psychiatry’s Barry Setlow, Ph.D., and the work was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Martynyuk’s team used animal modeling to study how sevoflurane affects brain function and related biological systems. While postoperative neurocognitive disorder—problems with thinking and memory following surgery and anesthesia—has been recognized as a health concern, much remains unknown about how these effects arise and who might be most vulnerable, and effective treatments are currently lacking.
The UF researchers found that in male rats, exposure to sevoflurane led to changes in stress-related brain pathways, inflammation, and cognitive function. In addition to examining brain function, the researchers analyzed the gut microbiome, a vital component of the brain–gut–microbiota (BGM) axis. The BGM axis is a communication network through which the brain and gut interact through nerves, hormones, genes, and the immune system. When this system is thrown off balance, it has been linked to problems not only with mental health and brain function but also with metabolism.
The study revealed abnormalities in the BGM axis that were most pronounced in the male offspring of exposed animals, despite these offspring having no direct exposure to the anesthetic. Remarkably, they found that treatment prior to sevoflurane exposure with the FDA-approved agents bumetanide or mifepristone normalized stress, inflammation, brain functions, and the gut microbiome in both the exposed sires and their offspring.
While this research was conducted in animals and further study is needed, it highlights potential pathways through which anesthesia could have longer-term biological effects. It also suggests that the gut microbiome could present an early biomarker of these risks. Martynyuk’s presentation highlighted the achievements of our department in research at an international level.
Congratulations to Dr. Martynyuk and his colleagues!