Subsequent maternal separation exacerbates neurobehavioral abnormalities in rats neonatally exposed to sevoflurane anesthesia

Neonatal exposure to sevoflurane may sensitize to stressors later in life, and post-exposure stress may exacerbate neurodevelopmental abnormalities even after a relatively short exposure to sevoflurane in rodents. The NKCC1 downregulation prior to exposure to the anesthetic may be therapeutic.