Repeated early-life exposure to anesthesia enhances subsequent anxiety-like behavior and gut microbiota dysbiosis in juvenile rats and children

It has been warned that early exposure to general anesthetics for over multiple surgeries or procedures may negatively affect brain development. Recent research has indicated the importance of microbiota in the development of brain systems that are vital to stress-related behaviors. Here we studied the long-term impact of repeated anesthesia exposure in early life on anxiety-like behaviors, microbiota change, endocrine system and serotonergic function.