Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Sevoflurane.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) frequently leads to early brain injury (EBI).
• Current treatments for SAH-induced EBI are limited.
• Sevoflurane's potential neuroprotective effects warrant investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if post-treatment sevoflurane protects against EBI in a mouse model of SAH.
• To investigate the dose-dependent and time-dependent effects of sevoflurane on EBI.
• To explore the association between sevoflurane's neuroprotection and apoptosis inhibition.

Main Methods:

• SAH was induced in mice via endovascular perforation.
• Mice received varying concentrations (1.5%, 3%, 4.5%) and durations (30, 60, 90 min) of sevoflurane post-SAH.
• Neurobehavioral function, brain edema, and neuronal cell death (TUNEL staining) were assessed 24 hours post-SAH.

Main Results:

• Administration of 1.5% sevoflurane for 60 minutes improved neurobehavioral function and reduced brain edema.
• 3% sevoflurane for 30 or 60 minutes also significantly improved neurobehavioral function and reduced brain edema.
• Both effective sevoflurane regimens attenuated neuronal cell death in the basal cortex.

Conclusions:

• Post-treatment sevoflurane, specifically 1.5% for 60 min and 3% for 30-60 min, attenuates EBI after SAH in mice.
• These findings suggest sevoflurane may be beneficial during anesthesia for acute aneurysm surgery.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms, including apoptosis inhibition.