Elamipretide (SS-31) Ameliorates Isoflurane-Induced Long-Term Impairments of Mitochondrial Morphogenesis and Cognition in Developing Rats.

Wu J, Hao S, Sun XR, Zhang H, Li H, Zhao H, Ji MH, Yang JJ, Li K

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience25 Apr 2017Cited by 37 (Europe PMC)

PMID28487636PMCIDPMC5403826DOI10.3389/fncel.2017.00119PepBankPUB-28487636

Summary

Mitochondria are supposed to be involved in the early pathogenesis of general anesthesia (GA)-induced neurotoxicity and long-term cognitive deficits in developing brains. However, effective pharmacologic agents targeted on mitochondria during GA exposure are lacking. This study explores the protective effects of mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant elamipretide (SS-31) on mitochondrial morphogenesis and cognition in developing rats exposed to isoflurane. Rat pups at postnatal day (PND) 7 were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 6 h following intraperitoneal administration of elamipretide or vehicle with 30 min interval. The hippocampus was immediately removed for biochemical assays. Histopathological studies were conducted at PND 21, and behavioral tests were performed at PND 40 or 60. We found that early exposure to isoflurane caused remarkable reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial deformation and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus. The injury occurrence ultimately gave rise to long-term cognitive deficits in developing rats. Interestingly, pretreatment with elamipretide not only provided protective effect against oxidative stress and mitochondrial damages, but also attenuated isoflurane-induced cognitive deficits. Our data support the notion that mitochondrial damage is an early and long lasting event of GA-induced injury and suggest that elamipretide might have clinically therapeutic benefits for pediatric patients undertaking GA.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In developing rats exposed to isoflurane, pretreatment with elamipretide gave protection against oxidative stress.
In plain wordsIn young rats exposed to the anesthetic isoflurane, elamipretide given before protected against oxidative stress.
Peptide
Elamipretide (SS-31)
Outcome
DecreaseIsoflurane-induced oxidative stress
Study
ratn: not reported in source
developing rats exposed to isoflurane at postnatal day 7
Comparator
Vehicle
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraperitonealAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
pretreatment with elamipretide not only provided protective effect against oxidative stress and mitochondrial damages
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rat pups at postnatal day (PND) 7 were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 6 h following intraperitoneal administration of elamipretide or vehicle with 30 min interval.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2848763601
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In developing rats exposed to isoflurane, pretreatment with elamipretide gave protection against mitochondrial damage.
In plain wordsIn young rats exposed to the anesthetic isoflurane, elamipretide given before protected the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) from damage.
Peptide
Elamipretide (SS-31)
Outcome
DecreaseIsoflurane-induced mitochondrial damage
Study
ratn: not reported in source
developing rats exposed to isoflurane at postnatal day 7
Comparator
Vehicle
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraperitonealAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
pretreatment with elamipretide not only provided protective effect against oxidative stress and mitochondrial damages
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rat pups at postnatal day (PND) 7 were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 6 h following intraperitoneal administration of elamipretide or vehicle with 30 min interval.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2848763602
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In developing rats exposed to isoflurane, pretreatment with elamipretide attenuated long-term cognitive deficits.
In plain wordsIn young rats exposed to the anesthetic isoflurane, elamipretide given before reduced later problems with learning and thinking.
Peptide
Elamipretide (SS-31)
Outcome
DecreaseIsoflurane-induced cognitive deficits
Study
ratn: not reported in source
developing rats exposed to isoflurane at postnatal day 7
Comparator
Vehicle
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraperitonealAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
also attenuated isoflurane-induced cognitive deficits.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rat pups at postnatal day (PND) 7 were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 6 h following intraperitoneal administration of elamipretide or vehicle with 30 min interval.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2848763603

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

Keywords

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.