The Effects of Sevoflurane, Enflurane, and Isoflurane on Baroreceptor-Sympathetic Reflex in Rabbits

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effects of sevoflurane, enflurane, and isoflurane ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) on spontaneous efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity (RNA) and the baroreceptor-sympathetic reflex in rabbits. Enflurane produced significant decreases in spontaneous RNA by 22.5% +/- 6.6% at 1.0 MAC, while sevoflurane and isoflurane, at the equivalent MAC, did not. All of the anesthetics attenuated the baroreflex gain similarly when mean blood pressure (MBP) was changed by sodium nitroprusside or phenylephrine intravenously. However, the sensitivity of baroreceptors at the aortic wall was not changed by any anesthetic, because no changes in the relationship between aortic nerve activity and MBP were obtained in anesthetic concentration even at 1.25 MAC. Furthermore, these anesthetics suppressed the sympathoinhibitory response to aortic nerve stimulation above 1.0 MAC. In conclusion, enflurane inhibits RNA to a greater degree than sevoflurane or isoflurane. However, all three anesthetics depress the reflex regulation of RNA to the same degree. The suppression on the baroreceptor-sympathetic reflex does not appear to be related to a change in the receptor sensitivity on the aorta, but is mediated by suppression of the central or peripheral sympathetic integrating system. (Anesth Analg 1996;82:342-8)