Background: Propofol has been reported to provide protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NFkappaB) plays a key role in oxidative stress and the inflammatory response during ischemia-reperfusion. We compared the effect of propofol with sevoflurane on kidney NFkappaB expression and systemic inflammatory responses induced by aortic clamping.
Methods: Twenty piglets were divided into four groups: sham surgery group with propofol (group SP, n = 5); sham group with sevoflurane (group SS, n = 5); and suprarenal clamping for 30 min with aorta-aortic bypass under propofol (group CP, n = 5) or sevoflurane (group CS, n = 5) anesthesia. Propofol was administered at 4 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1) i.v. and sevoflurane given at 1.5% inspiratory concentration. Peripheral blood and kidney biopsies were taken before the start of surgery, 15 min after unclamping the aorta, 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 days after surgery. Plasma creatinine, myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1-beta; and kidney superoxide anion and superoxidase dismutase were measured. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and renal tissue NFkappaB was measured using Western blotting.
Results: Compared with the CS group, animals in the CP group had lower concentrations of myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1beta, superoxide anion, superoxidase dismutase (P < 0.05) from 24 to 72 h after surgery and diminished NFkappaB expression and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity (P < 0.05) at 48 and 72 h after surgery, respectively.
Conclusions: Compared with sevoflurane, propofol administration during suprarenal aortic clamping and unclamping led to modulation of markers of inflammation and decreased NFkappaB expression.