Sevoflurane postconditioning ameliorates oxygen-glucose deprivation-reperfusion injury in the rat hippocampus

Abstract

Introduction: Sevoflurane is well known to exert a neuroprotective effect through anesthetic preconditioning. However, its effects on postconditioning, a neuroprotective phenomenon following an insult, have not been well studied. Aims: In this study, we examined the ability of sevoflurane to induce postconditioning in rat hippocampal slices, in vitro. Results: 2%, 4%, and 6% sevoflurane reduced neurophysiologic and morphologic neuronal injury following oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reperfusion. The quantity of damaged neurons was significantly reduced on immunofluorescence staining; excitatory amino acids (Asp, Glu) increased and inhibitory amino acids (GABA) decreased significantly. The effect was concentration-dependent. Conclusion: Postconditioning with sevoflurane reduces neuronal damage after OGD-reperfusion injury in the CA1 area of rat hippocampus, in vitro. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.