Combined treatment with celecoxib and sevoflurane after global cerebral ischaemia has no additive neuroprotective effects in rats.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combined administration of celecoxib and sevoflurane after ischaemia produces additive neuroprotection against transient global cerebral ischaemia in rats. METHODS Cerebral ischaemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion with haemorrhagic hypotension for 8 min. After ischaemia, no drugs were administered in the sham (n=4) and control (n=10) groups. In the celecoxib group (n=10), celecoxib 2 mg kg(-1) was administered after reperfusion. In the sevoflurane group (n=10), after reperfusion, sevoflurane 2.4% was inhaled two times for 5 min each at an interval of 10 min to achieve postconditioning. In the celecoxib+sevoflurane group (n=10), administration of celecoxib 2 mg kg(-1) and the sevoflurane postconditioning were performed simultaneously. Necrotic or apoptotic cells were examined in the hippocampus 7 days after ischaemia. Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines including tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β were measured 2 h, and 3 and 7 days after ischaemia. RESULTS Necrotic or apoptotic cells were observed more frequently in the control group than in the celecoxib or sevoflurane groups 7 days after ischaemia (P<0.05). Cytokine levels were higher in the control group when compared with the celecoxib or sevoflurane groups 2 h after ischaemia (P<0.05). However, the histological outcomes and cytokine levels were similar in all three groups treated with celecoxib or sevoflurane. CONCLUSIONS Combined treatment with celecoxib and sevoflurane after global cerebral ischaemia has no additive neuroprotective effects in rats.