Isoflurane postconditioning reduces ischemia-induced nuclear factor-κB activation and interleukin 1β production to provide neuroprotection in rats and mice

► Isoflurane postconditioning improves long-term neurological outcome after focal brain ischemia in rats. ► Isoflurane postconditioning reduces inflammatory cytokine production in the ischemic brain tissues. ► Isoflurane postconditioning-induced neuroprotection may be mediated by reducing inflammatory cytokines.