Selective impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by sevoflurane: oxygen free radicals participation.

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To determine whether sevoflurane alters endothelium-mediated vasodilation of vascular smooth muscle, isolated ring preparations of canine mesenteric arteries were suspended for isometric tension recordings in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution at 37 degrees C. Following contraction with norepinephrine, cumulative concentration-response curves were generated using endothelium-dependent vasodilators (acetylcholine, bradykinin, and calcium ionophore A23187) or nitroglycerin. The relaxation produced by acetylcholine, bradykinin, or A23187 was impaired by sevoflurane (2.3 and 4.6 vol%); sevoflurane did not affect relaxation caused by nitroglycerin, which, in these vessels, acts by an endothelium-independent mechanism. Under the same experimental conditions as those used for the concentration-response relationship, electron spin resonance spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide verified generation of hydroxyl radical from the sevoflurane-delivered bathing media; the generation of hydroxyl radical was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of superoxide anion radical, or by the powerful iron chelator deferoxamine. Furthermore, sevoflurane-induced impairment of the relaxation caused by the endothelium-dependent vasodilators used was significantly decreased by superoxide dismutase. These results indicate that superoxide anion radical and/or closely related species of oxygen free radicals, possibly hydroxyl radical, are involved in the observed effect of sevoflurane. We propose that sevoflurane selectively impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine mesenteric arteries by an oxygen free radical mechanism, mainly due to inactivation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.