title: Desflurane affords greater protection than halothane against focal cerebral ischaemia in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We studied the potential neuroprotective effects of halothane and desflurane, compared with the awake state, on infarct size following 2 h of intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) and 22 h of reperfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized with desflurane or halothane, intubated, and mechanically ventilated. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood gases, and pH were controlled. Body temperature was maintained at 37.5-38 degrees C. Animals were assigned to one of four groups according to the anaesthetic type (halothane or desflurane) and the duration of anaesthesia: "short-duration", during the preparation only; "long-duration", during both preparation and ischaemia. Twenty-four hours after MCAo, infarcts were visualized by staining with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride. Two additional groups of rats were subjected to the same protocol as that of long-duration halothane and long-duration desflurane with additional pericranial temperature measurements made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physiological parameters were comparable between the groups but MAP was higher (P<0.0001) in the short-duration groups. In the short-duration groups, cerebral infarct volumes were not significantly different between anaesthetics (short-duration halothane: 288 (61) mm(3), mean (SD); short-duration desflurane: 269 (71) mm(3), P>0.56). Compared with the awake state (short-duration groups), halothane and desflurane significantly reduced infarct volumes (long-duration halothane: 199 (54) mm(3), P<0.0047 vs short-duration halothane; long-duration desflurane: 121 (55) mm(3), P<0.0001 vs short-duration desflurane). The mean infarct volume in the long-duration desflurane group was significantly lower than that in the long-duration halothane group (P<0.0053). Pericranial temperatures were similar in the desflurane and halothane long-duration groups (P>0.17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In rats, desflurane-induced neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischaemia was greater than that conferred by halothane.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Anaesthesiology and Cellular Physiology, University of Caen, UPRES EA 3212, Département d'Anesthésie Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haelewyn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yvon
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hanouz
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: MacKenzie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ducouret
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gérard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roussel
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077335:Desflurane; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006221:Halothane / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D010100:Oxygen; D006221:Halothane