Effect of sevoflurane preconditioning on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Objective To investigate the effect of sevoflurane preconditioning on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) injury in rats and its mechanisms.Methods Ninety adult male SD rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into three groups,sham operation,ischemia-reperfusion (I/R group)and sevoflurane preconditioning group(sevoflurane group).Rats I/R model was established by segmental hepatic ischemia for 60 min.In sevoflurane group the animals were pretreated with 2% sevoflurane for 30 min before I/R.The animals were killed at 2,4,8h after reperfusion.The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities,and malondialdehyde(MDA) content,superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase(MPO) activities in the liver were determined and compared among the three groups.Results Compared with sham operation group,the serum ALT and AST levels,the MDA content and MPO activity in the liver increased,while SOD activity in the liver decreased significantly both in I/R and sevoflurane groups after hepatic I/R (P0.01).The serum ALT and AST levels,MDA content and MPO activity in the liver were significantly lower,SOD activity in the liver was significantly higher after hepatic I/R in sevoflurane group than those in I/R group (P0.05).Conclusions Pretreatment with 2% sevoflurane can protect liver from ischemia reperfusion injury to some extent in rats.The mechanisms may be associated with removing of oxygen free radicals and reduction of neutrophile granulocyte infiltration in the liver