NEUROSCIENCES AND NEUROANAESTHESIA Sevoflurane pre- and post-conditioning protect the brain via the mitochondrial KATP channel

Methods. Adult Wistar male rats were subjected to focal cerebral ischaemia for 1 h followed by 24 h or 7 days of reperfusion. Preconditioning consisted of 15 min exposure to sevoflurane at 1 minimum alveolar concentration (2.6%) 72 h before ischaemia. Post-conditioning was performed by exposure to sevoflurane immediately at the onset of reperfusion or by a delayed exposure 5 min after the onset of reperfusion. The role of the mitoKATP channel was assessed by i.p. injection of the selective blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate before each sevoflurane administration or by the mitoKATP channel opener, diazoxide (DZX), given in place of sevoflurane. Cerebral infarct size, neurological deficit score, and motor coordination were evaluated 24 h and 7 days after reperfusion.