RESUMO
Objective:To evaluate the effect of sevoflurane postconditioning on early inflammatory responses during intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods:Sixty clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 200-230 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), intestinal I/R group (I/R group), and sevoflurane postconditioning group (Sevo group). Intestinal I/R was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h in anesthetized rats in I/R group and Sevo group.Laparotomy was performed, and the superior mesenteric artery was only isolated in Sham group.The rats inhaled 1.15% sevoflurane for 30 min for postconditioning in Sevo group.Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture at 2 h of reperfusion, and then the rats were sacrificed.Samples of intestine were obtained for examination of the pathological changes of intestinal tissues (with a light microscope) which were scored according to Chiu and for determination of the neutrophil L-selectin levels in blood (by flow cytometry), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) expression (by Western blot), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (by spectrophotometry). Results:Compared with group Sham, the neutropil L-selectin level in blood was significantly increased in group I/R and decreased in group Sevo, and Chiu′s score, TNF-a expression and MPO activity were significantly increased in I/R and Sevo groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group I/R, the neutropil L-selectin level in blood, Chiu′s score, TNF-a expression, TNF-a expression and MPO activity were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group Sevo. Conclusion:The mechanism by which sevoflurane postconditioning reduces intestinal I/R injury may be related to inhibiting early inflammatory responses in rats.