Isoflurane Post-Treatment Improves Outcome after an Embolic Stroke in Rabbits

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 8;10(12):e0143931. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143931. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Application of commonly used volatile anesthetics after brain ischemia onset (post-treatment) provides neuroprotection in rodents. To further test its translational potential, this study was designed to determine whether isoflurane post-treatment induced neuroprotection in rabbits after embolic stroke. White male New Zealand rabbits received intra-carotid injection of clots when they were awake. Some rabbits were exposed to 2.5% isoflurane for 1 h at 5 min after the injection. Isoflurane post-treatment increased the tolerance of rabbits to the amount of clots. Isoflurane post-treatment also reduced brain infarct volumes and plasma S100B 3 days after the injection of 5 mg clots and improved neurological deficit scores after the stroke. Isoflurane post-treatment improves neurological outcome in rabbits after embolic stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anesthetics, Inhalation / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Cerebral Infarction / complications
  • Cerebral Infarction / therapy*
  • Embolism / complications
  • Embolism / therapy*
  • Isoflurane / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Rabbits
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Inhalation
  • Isoflurane

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from Natural Science Foundation Project of CQ CSTC (CSTC2013C292) of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 81070094 and 81471192), Beijing, China, and Robert M. Epstein Professorship, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.