Fig. 1

Main mechanisms of autophagy in the cerebra-protective effects of DEX. DEX is one the α2AR agonists. Under administration of DEX in treating cerebral injury, the autophagy level was regulated by multiple associated genes and a series of downstream signaling, resulting in reduction of inflammatory, apoptosis, and damaged mitochondria. DEX dexmedetomidine, HIF-1α hypoxia inducible factor-1α, LC3 light chain 3 B, Drp1 dynamin-related protein 1, HSP70 heat shock 70 kDa protein, TOM20 translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20, Dram2 DNA damage regulated autophagy modulator 2, FOXO3α forkhead-box-protein 3α, TSC2 tuberous sclerosis complex 2, STIM1 stromal interaction molecule 1, ROS reactive oxygen species, MDA malondialdehyde, Nrf2 nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2