Anesthetic-induced Preconditioning Research Articles

Volatile anesthetics mimic cardiac preconditioning by priming the activation of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels via multiple signaling pathways.

Volatile anesthetics induce pharmacological preconditioning in cardiac tissue. The purpose of this study was to test whether volatile anesthetics mediate this effect by activation of the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) or sarcolemmal K(ATP) (sarcK(ATP)) channel in rat ventricular myocytes and to evaluate the signaling pathways involved. A cellular model of ischemia with subsequent hypoosmolar trypan blue staining served to determine the effects of 5-hydroxydecanoate, a selective mitoK(ATP) channel blocker, HMR-1098, a selective sarcK(ATP) channel blocker, diazoxide, a preconditioning mimicking agent, and various modulators of putative signaling pathways on cardioprotection elicited by sevoflurane and isoflurane. Microscopy was used to visualize and measure autofluorescence of flavoproteins, a direct index of mitoK(ATP) channel activity. Volatile anesthetics significantly enhanced diazoxide-mediated activation of mitoK(ATP) channels as assessed by autofluorescence of myocytes. Conversely, volatile anesthetics alone did not alter mitoK(ATP) channel activity, implying a priming effect of volatile anesthetics on mitoK(ATP) channels. Administration of the protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine completely blocked this effect. Also, pretreatment with volatile anesthetics potentiated diazoxide-mediated protection against ischemia, as indicated by a reduction in trypan blue-positive myocytes. Importantly, cardioprotection afforded by volatile anesthetics was unaffected by the sarcK(ATP) channel blocker HMR-1098 but sensitive to modulations of nitric oxide and adenosine-G(i) signaling pathways. Using autofluorescence in live cell imaging microscopy and a simulated model of ischemia, the authors present evidence that volatile anesthetics mediate their protection in cardiomyocytes by selectively priming mitoK(ATP) channels through multiple triggering protein kinase C-coupled signaling pathways. These observations provide important new insight into the mechanisms of anesthetic-induced preconditioning.

Isoflurane-induced preconditioning is attenuated by diabetes.

Volatile anesthetics stimulate, but hyperglycemia attenuates, the activity of mitochondrial ATP-regulated K(+) channels. We tested the hypothesis that diabetes mellitus interferes with isoflurane-induced preconditioning. Acutely instrumented, barbiturate-anesthetized dogs were randomly assigned to receive 0, 0.32, or 0.64% end-tidal concentrations of isoflurane in the absence or presence of diabetes (3 wk after administration of alloxan and streptozotocin) in six experimental groups. All dogs were subjected to a 60-min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Myocardial infarct size (triphenyltetrazolium staining) was 29 +/- 3% (n = 8) of the left ventricular area at risk in control experiments. Isoflurane reduced infarct size (15 +/- 2 and 13 +/- 1% during 0.32 and 0.64% concentrations; n = 8 and 7 dogs, respectively). Diabetes alone did not alter infarct size (30 +/- 3%; n = 8) but blocked the protective effects of 0.32% (27 +/- 2%; n = 7) and not 0.64% isoflurane (18 +/- 3%; n = 7). Infarct size was directly related to blood glucose concentrations in diabetic dogs, but this relationship was abolished by higher concentrations of isoflurane. The results indicate that blood glucose and end-tidal isoflurane concentrations are important determinants of infarct size during anesthetic-induced preconditioning.

Anesthetic effects on mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K channel.

Volatile anesthetics show an ischemic preconditioning-like cardioprotective effect, whereas intravenous anesthetics have cardioprotective effects for ischemic-reperfusion injury. Although recent evidence suggests that mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels are important in cardiac preconditioning, the effect of anesthetics on mitoK(ATP) is unexplored. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that anesthetics act on the mitoK(ATP) channel and mitochondrial flavoprotein oxidation. Myocardial cells were isolated from adult guinea pigs. Endogenous mitochondrial flavoprotein fluorescence, an indicator of mitochondrial flavoprotein oxidation, was monitored with fluorescence microscopy while myocytes were exposed individually for 15 min to isoflurane, sevoflurane, propofol, and pentobarbital. The authors further investigated the effect of 5-hydroxydeanoate, a specific mitoK(ATP) channel antagonist, on isoflurane- and sevoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation. Additionally, the effects of propofol and pentobarbital on isoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation were measured. Isoflurane and sevoflurane induced dose-dependent increases in flavoprotein oxidation (isoflurane: R2 = 0.71, n = 50; sevoflurane: R2 = 0.86, n = 20). The fluorescence increase produced by both isoflurane and sevoflurane was eliminated by 5-hydroxydeanoate. Although propofol and pentobarbital showed no significant effects on flavoprotein oxidation, they both dose-dependently inhibited isoflurane-induced flavoprotein oxidation. Inhalational anesthetics induce flavoprotein oxidation through opening of the mitoK(ATP) channel. This may be an important mechanism contributing to anesthetic-induced preconditioning. Cardioprotective effects of intravenous anesthetics may not be dependent on flavoprotein oxidation, but the administration of propofol or pentobarbital may potentially inhibit the cardioprotective effect of inhalational anesthetics.

Sarcolemmal and mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate- dependent potassium channels: mechanism of desflurane-induced cardioprotection.

Volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning is mediated by adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium (KATP) channels; however, the subcellular location of these channels is unknown. The authors tested the hypothesis that desflurane reduces experimental myocardial infarct size by activation of specific sarcolemmal and mitochondrial KATP channels. Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 88) were acutely instrumented for measurement of aortic and left ventricular pressures. All dogs were subjected to a 60-min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 3-h reperfusion. In four separate groups, dogs received vehicle (0.9% saline) or the nonselective KATP channel antagonist glyburide (0.1 mg/kg intravenously) in the presence or absence of 1 minimum alveolar concentration desflurane. In four additional groups, dogs received 45-min intracoronary infusions of the selective sarcolemmal (HMR 1098; 1 microg. kg-1. min-1) or mitochondrial (5-hydroxydecanoate [5-HD]; 150 microg. kg-1. min-1) KATP channel antagonists in the presence or absence of desflurane. Myocardial perfusion and infarct size were measured with radioactive microspheres and triphenyltetrazolium staining, respectively. Desflurane significantly (P < 0.05) decreased infarct size to 10 +/- 2% (mean +/- SEM) of the area at risk as compared with control experiments (25 +/- 3% of area at risk). This beneficial effect of desflurane was abolished by glyburide (25 +/- 2% of area at risk). Glyburide (24 +/- 2%), HMR 1098 (21 +/- 4%), and 5-HD (24 +/- 2% of area at risk) alone had no effects on myocardial infarct size. HMR 1098 and 5-HD abolished the protective effects of desflurane (19 +/- 3% and 22 +/- 2% of area at risk, respectively). Desflurane reduces myocardial infarct size in vivo, and the results further suggest that both sarcolemmal and mitochondrial KATP channels could be involved.

Colchicine inhibits isoflurane-induced preconditioning.

When administered before prolonged myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, isoflurane exerts potent cardioprotective effects similar to those inferred by ischemic preconditioning. To determine whether an intact cytoskeleton is critically important in isoflurane-induced preconditioning, the authors used a rabbit model in which isoflurane-induced myocardial preconditioning decreases myocardial infarct size (IS) substantially. In this model, the authors tested whether the microtubule depolymerizing agent, colchicine, would inhibit isoflurane-induced myocardial preconditioning. Myocardial IS was measured in four groups of propofol-anesthetized rabbits, each subjected to 30 min of anterolateral coronary occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Groups differed only in the pretreatments given, and only the control group received no pretreatment. An isoflurane-preconditioned group was pretreated with 15 min of end-tidal isoflurane, 1.1%, and then 15 min of washout. An isoflurane-plus-colchicine group was administered 2 mg/kg colchicine intravenously before isoflurane pretreatment. A colchicine-control group was administered 2 mg/kg colchicine but no isoflurane pretreatment. Myocardial IS and area at risk (AR) were defined by staining. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance or covariance. Infarct size, expressed as a percentage of AR (IS:AR) was 33.6%+/-8.8% (SD) in the control group. Isoflurane preexposure reduced myocardial IS:AR significantly, to 11.8%+/-9.1%. Colchicine pretreatment eliminated the preconditioning-like effect of isoflurane (IS:AR = 32.6%+/-8.7%). Colchicine alone did not alter IS (IS:AR = 27.6%+/-7.1%; P = not significant). Colchicine abolished the preconditioning effect of isoflurane but did not increase IS when administered alone. An intact microtubular cytoskeleton is critically important in the process of volatile anesthetic-induced preconditioning.

Anesthetic-induced preconditioning: previous administration of isoflurane decreases myocardial infarct size in rabbits.

Experimental evidence suggests that ATP-sensitive potassium channels are involved in myocardial ischemic preconditioning. Because some pharmacologic effects of isoflurane are mediated by K(ATP) channels, the authors tested the hypothesis: Isoflurane administration, before myocardial ischemia, can induce or mimic myocardial preconditioning. Myocardial infarct size was measured in three groups of propofol-anesthetized rabbits, each subjected to 30 min of anterolateral coronary occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Groups differed in their pretreatment: Group 1 (control, N = 13) no pretreatment, Group 2 (ischemic preconditioning, N = 8), 5 min of coronary occlusion and 15 min of reperfusion; Group 3 (isoflurane pretreatment; N = 15), 15 min of isoflurane (1.1% end-tidal) and 15 min of washout. Hemodynamics were monitored serially. Myocardial infarct size and the area at risk were defined using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and fluorescent microspheres, respectively, and both were measured using computerized planimetry. Infarct size expressed as a percentage of area at risk was 23.4 +/- 8.5% (mean +/- SD) in the isoflurane group compared with 33.1 +/- 13.3% in controls, and 8.7 +/- 6.2% in the ischemia-preconditioned group. Analysis for coincidental regressions, followed by tests for equality of slope and elevation, showed that the linear relationship between infarct size and area at risk was significantly (P < 0.05) different in all three groups because of differences in line elevation. Minor differences in hemodynamic variables were found between groups, which were unlikely to account for the significant differences in infarct size. Preadministration of isoflurane, before myocardial ischemia, reduces myocardial infarct size, and mimics myocardial preconditioning.