title: Isoflurane reduces hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial permeability transition in rat primary cultured cardiocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The volatile anesthetic isoflurane protects the heart from hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) injury. However, it is still incompletely understood whether isoflurane exerts its protective role through preventing mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary cultured cardiocytes were exposed to H/R in the absence or presence of isoflurane. Cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and TUNEL staining, respectively. MPTP function was monitored by confocal imaging after reoxygenation. ROS production and activation of caspase-3 were determined by fluorescent reader and western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to the control group, H/R led to significant cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis, while application of isoflurane markedly reversed the effects. Furthermore, isoflurane significantly inhibits the formation of H/R-induced excess ROS production. Finally, isoflurane attenuated the onset of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) occurred during hypoxia/reoxygenation, and in turn inhibited activation of caspase-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that isoflurane has a protective effect on cardiocytes exposed to H/R by reducing excess ROS production, blocking open of MPTP and further reducing apoptosis.
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xianju
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Changzhou No,2 People's Hospital, the affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China. yhfdoctor1@126.com.
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D007530:Isoflurane