Preconditioning with Sevoflurane Reduces Changes in Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide during Ischemia–Reperfusion in Isolated Hearts

Abstract

Background Ischemia causes an imbalance in mitochondrial metabolism and accumulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). We showed that anesthetic preconditioning (APC), like ischemic preconditioning, improved mitochondrial NADH energy balance during ischemia and improved function and reduced infarct size on reperfusion. Opening adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(atp)) channels may be involved in triggering APC. The authors tested if effects of APC on NADH concentrations before, during, and after ischemia are reversible by 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD), a putative mitochondrial K channel blocker. Methods Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide fluorescence was measured in 60 guinea pig Langendorff-prepared hearts assigned into five groups: (1) no treatment before ischemia; (2) APC by exposure to 1.3 mm sevoflurane for 15 min; (3) 200 microm 5-HD from 5 min before to 15 min after sevoflurane exposure; (4) 35 min 5-HD alone; and (5) no treatment and no ischemia. Sevoflurane was washed out for 30 min, and 5-HD for 15 min, before 30-min ischemia and 120-min reperfusion. Results Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide was reversibly increased during sevoflurane exposure before ischemia, and the increase and rate of decline in NADH during ischemia were reduced after APC. 5-HD abolished these changes in NADH. On reperfusion, function was improved and infarct size reduced after APC compared with other groups. Conclusion Anesthetic preconditioning was evidenced by improved mitochondrial bioenergetics as assessed from NADH concentrations during ischemia and by attenuated reperfusion injury. Reversal of APC by bracketing sevoflurane exposure with 5-HD suggests that APC is triggered by mitochondrial K channel opening or, alternatively, by attenuated mitochondrial respiration without direct involvement of mitochondrial K channel opening.