Effects of isoflurane on ICAM-1 expression and neutrophils infiltration in rats with liver ischemia and reperfusion injury

ObjectiveTo establish a rat model of warm partial hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR), and investigate the protective and anti-inflammatory effects of isoflurane on warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.MethodsThirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into 4 groups (n=8): PB-Sham group in which the rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (1.0%, 40 mg/kg, PB) and received a sham operation without occlusion of liver blood flow; PB-IR group whose rats underwent partial hepatic IR after anesthesia; Iso-Sham group in which inhalation of 1.0 MAC isoflurane and sham operation was performed; Iso-IR group in which 1.0 MAC isoflurane was inhaled for 4 h and IR was performed. Rat model of warm partial hepatic IR was established by clamping the hepatic arteries and hilar vessels distributing to the left and median lobes to induce partial hepatic ischemia (70%) for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 3 h. The rats were killed 3 h after declamping, and specimens of liver tissue and blood were obtained. The serum ALT and AST were detected as liver damage markers. Viability of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in liver was measured. The protein level of ICAM-1 in the liver was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.ResultsRats treated with 1.0 MAC isoflurane during warm partial (70%) hepatic ischemia 60 min and 3 h reperfusion had significantly lower serum ALT and AST compared with rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium subjected to hepatic IRI. The expression of ICAM-1 in hepatic tissue was significantly increased by hepatic IRI after pentobarbital sodium anesthesia. Isoflurane significantly inhibited protein expression of ICAM-1 in hepatic IR injury compared with pentobarbital sodium anesthesia. Viability of liver MPO was significantly increased by hepatic IRI after pentobarbital sodium anesthesia; Isoflurane can significantly inhibit MPO alteration in rat liver ischemia–reperfusion injury compared with rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium.ConclusionIsoflurane anesthesia can attenuate liver IR injury in rats that maybe by inhibiting ICAM-1 expression and reducing the infiltration of neutrophils.