Effect of Sevoflurane postconditioning on gene expression in brain tissue of the middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model.

Ischemic postconditioning has been described in both heart and brain. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Sevoflurane postconditioning (SP) on brain biochemical parameters, Bcl-2, Bax, c-Fos and Caspase-3 protein levels and Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in the middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Results showed that SP markedly decreased cerebral oxidative injury and improved immunity activity. In addition, SP significantly enhanced cerebral Bcl-2, c-Fos and decreased Bax, Caspase-3 proteins positive expression. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that SP markedly enhanced Bcl-2, and decreased Bax, TNF-α and Caspase-3 mRNA expression. Our results confirm that SP can play the protective action against cerebral ischemia reperfusion-induced brain injury by regulating cerebral antioxidant enzymes activities, Bcl-2, Bax, c-Fos and Caspase-3 protein positive expression levels and Bcl-2, Bax, TNF-α and Caspase-3 mRNA expression.