Propofol inhibits desflurane-induced preconditioning in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The authors tested the hypothesis that ischemic and desflurane-induced preconditioning are blocked by propofol.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, vehicle-controlled study.


METHODS
A university research laboratory.


METHODS
New Zealand white rabbits (n = 52).


METHODS
Pentobarbital-anesthetized rabbits were subjected to 30 minutes of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. Rabbits received 0.0 (control) or 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration of desflurane (30 minutes' duration and a 30-minute memory period) or ischemic preconditioning (5 minutes of ischemia and a 30-minute memory period) in the absence or presence of propofol (10 mg/kg/h intravenously) or its vehicle (10% Intralipid emulsion; B Braun, Melsungen, Germany). The myocardial infarct size was measured with triphenyltetrazolium staining. Statistical analysis was performed with 1-way and 2-way analysis of variance when appropriate, followed by a post hoc Duncan test. Data are mean ± standard deviation.


RESULTS
Myocardial infarct size was 56% ± 8% in control animals (n = 7). Desflurane significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the infarct size to 37% ± 6% (n = 7). Desflurane-induced preconditioning was blocked by propofol (65% ± 10%, n = 7) but not by its vehicle (45% ± 11%, n = 5). Propofol and its vehicle alone had no effect on the infarct size (62% ± 8% [n = 6] and 58% ± 3% [n=5], respectively). Ischemic preconditioning reduced infarct size in the absence or presence of propofol to 24% ± 7% (n = 7) and 29% ± 12% (n = 6).


CONCLUSIONS
Desflurane-induced preconditioning markedly reduced infarct size and was blocked by propofol, whereas ischemic preconditioning was not blocked by propofol. The results suggest an important interference between propofol and anesthetic-induced preconditioning and might explain some contradictory findings in studies in humans.
Department of Anesthesiology, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Thorsten M
TM
Smul
Jan
J
Stumpner
Christoph
C
Blomeyer
Christopher
C
Lotz
Andreas
A
Redel
Markus
M
Lange
Norbert
N
Roewer
Franz
F
Kehl
D000818:Animals; D000077335:Desflurane; D019157:Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial / Q000379:methods*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation
D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D015742:Propofol