Research Progress of Inhalational Anesthetics as Preconditioning Agents in Ischemic Brain

Preconditioning has been shown to protect the brain from cerebral ischemia in animal models.Therefore,one potential clinical neuroprotective strategy in humans may involve increasing the cerebral tolerance to ischemia by preconditioning.There are many methods to induce tolerance through preconditioning,such as ischemia itself,pharmacological treatment,hypoxia,and others.Inhalational anesthetic agents have also been shown to result in brain preconditioning.Mechanisms responsible for brain preconditioning are complex and unclear,which may involve Akt activation,ATP-sensitive potassium channels,and nitric oxide.