Brain protection of isoflurane preconditioning on the rat liver against ischemia-reperfusion

Objective To investigate the brain protective effect of isoflurane preconditioning on the rat liver against ischemia-reperfusion through determining the content of S-100β protein in peripheral blood in combination with mitochondrial ultrastructure in rat brain.Methods A total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,sham group (group S):the only separation of the hepatoduodenal ligament,but did not block the hepatic portal blood supply; ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R):liver ischemia 60min,reperfusion 120 min; isoflurane preconditioning group (group ISO):60 min before liver I/R,ISO pretreatment for 30 min,elution in the air after 30 min; 24 h after recirculation the forebrain tissues were rapidly removed.The changes of mitochondrial ultrastructure were observed by electron microscopy.The content of S-100β protein in serum was measured before ischemia and reperfusion 120 min through the application of Elisa kit.Results Marked swelling of mitochondria with disrupted cristae and damaged matrix were observed in group I/R,while relative intact mitochondria were seen in sham and ISO groups.The content of S-100β protein in serum was significantly higher in I/R group [(1.52 ±0.26) μg/ml] than in sham [(0.31 ±0.05)μg/ml] and ISO [(0.79 ± 0.21) μg/ml] groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The liver ischemia-reperfusion may injure the brain of the rat and isoflurane preconditioning can protect the rat brain from injury. Key words: Rats, sprague-dawley;  Disease models, animal ;  Ischemic preconditioning;  Isoflurane/pharmacology;  Liver;  Reperfusion injury/prevention & control;  Brain/drug effects