Effects of sevoflurane preconditioning on caveolin-3 expression during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Objective To evaluate the effects of sevoflurane preconditioning on caveolin-3 expression during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Healthy male Wistar rats,aged 6-8 weeks,weighing 250-300 g,were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital 30 mg/kg and heparin 1 000 IU/kg.Their hearts were excised and perfused with K-H solution in a Langendorff apparatus.Thirty isolated rat hearts were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),I/R group and sevoflurane preconditioning group (group SP).After 30 min of equilibration,group C was continuously perfused with K-H solution for 90 min,group I/R underwent 30 min of ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion,and group SP was perfused with K-H solution saturated with 2％ sevoflurane for 10 min followed by 5 min washout with K-H solution,then underwent 30 min of ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion.HR,left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP),+ dp/dtmax and-dp/dtmax were recorded at the end of equilibration,immediately before ischemia and at 30 and 60 min of reperfusion.Myocardial specimens were obtained from the cardiac apex for microscopic examination.Myocardial specimens were obtained from the left ventricle for determination of caveolin3 expression.Results Compared with group C,+ dp/dtmax and-dp/dtmax were significantly decreased immediately before ischemia,and HR,LVDEP,+ dp/dtmax and-dp/dtmax were decreased at 30 and 60 min of reperfusion in groups I/R and SP,and caveolin-3 expression was down-regulated in group I/R and up-regulated in group SP (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group I/R,HR,LVDEP,+ dp/dtmax and-dp/dtmax were significantly decreased immediately before ischemia and increased at 30 and 60 min of reperfusion,and caveolin-3 expression was up-regulated in group SP (P ＜ 0.05).The pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group SP as compared with group I/R.Conclusion The mechanism by which sevoflurane preconditioning attenuates myocardial I/R injury in rats may be related to up-regulation of myocardial caveolin-3 expression. Key words: Anesthetics, inhalation;  Ischemic preconditioning;  Myocardial reperfusion injury; Caveolin 3