Anesthetics, cerebral protection and preconditioning

Nunes, Rogean Rodrigues; Duval Neto, Gastão Fernandes; Alencar, Júlio César Garcia de; Franco, Suyane Benevides; Andrade, Nayanna Quezado de; Dumaresq, Danielle Maia Holanda; Cavalcante, Sara Lúcia

doi:10.1590/S0034-70942013000100011

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several studies demonstrate that cerebral preconditioning is a protective mechanism against a stressful situation. Preconditioning determinants are described, as well as the neuroprotection provided by anesthetic and non-anesthetics agents. CONTENT: Review based on the main articles addressing the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion and neuronal injury and pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors (inflammation, glycemia, and temperature) related to the change in response to ischemia-reperfusion, in addition to neuroprotection induced by anesthetic use. CONCLUSIONS: The brain has the ability to protect itself against ischemia when stimulated. The elucidation of this mechanism enables the application of preconditioning inducing substances (some anesthetics), other drugs, and non-pharmacological measures, such as hypothermia, aimed at inducing tolerance to ischemic lesions.

Ischemic Preconditioning; Ischemia; Central Nervous System; Anesthetics; Hypothermia

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Diversos estudos têm demonstrado o precondicionamento cerebral como mecanismo protetor diante de uma situação de estresse. Fatores determinantes são descritos, bem como a neuroproteção proporcionada por agentes anestésicos e não anestésicos. CONTEÚDO: Fez-se revisão baseada nos principais artigos da literatura que englobam a fisiopatologia da isquemia-reperfusão e lesão neuronal e os fatores não farmacológicos (inflamação, glicemia e temperatura) e farmacológicos relacionados com a mudança da resposta à isquemia-reperfusão, além da neuroproteção induzida pelo uso dos anestésicos. CONCLUSÕES: O cérebro tem a capacidade de se proteger contra a isquemia quando estimulado. A elucidação desse mecanismo possibilita a aplicação de substâncias indutoras do precondicionamento, como alguns anestésicos, outros fármacos e medidas não farmacológicas, como a hipotermia, com o objetivo de induzir tolerância a lesões isquêmicas.

ANESTÉSICOS; COMPLICAÇÕES, Isquemia; HIPOTERMIA; Precondicionamento Isquêmico; SISTEMA NERVOSO CENTRAL

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Diversos estudios han demostrado el pre-condicionamiento cerebral como un mecanismo protector frente a una situación de estrés. Están descritos algunos factores determinantes del PC, como también la neuroprotección proporcionada por los agentes anestésicos y no anestésicos. CONTENIDO: Se hizo la revisión con base en los principales artículos de la literatura que engloban la fisiopatología de la isquemia-reperfusión y la lesión neuronal, y los factores no farmacológicos (inflamación, glucemia y temperatura), y farmacológicos relacionados con el cambio de la respuesta a la isquemia-reperfusión, además de la neuroprotección inducida por el uso de los anestésicos. CONCLUSIONES: El cerebro tiene la capacidad de protegerse contra la isquemia cuando se le estimula. La elucidación de ese mecanismo posibilita la aplicación de sustancias inductoras del precondicionamiento cerebral, como algunos anestésicos, otros fármacos y medidas no farmacológicas, como la hipotermia, con el fin de inducir la tolerancia a las lesiones isquémicas.

ANESTÉSICOS; COMPLICACIONES, Isquemia; HIPOTERMIA; Pre-condicionamento cerebral; SISTEMA NERVIOSO CENTRAL

REVIEW ARTICLE

^ITSA; MSc and PhD in Anesthetics; Postgraduate in Cardiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC); Jointly Responsible for the Center for Teaching and Training (CET) of Hospital Geral de Fortaleza (HGF); Medicine Professor of Fachristus; Postgraduate in Clinical Engineering, Universidade de Fortaleza (Unifor); Vice-Chair of the Research Ethics Committee, Hospital São Carlos, Fortaleza, Ceará

^IITSA; Full Professor; PhD; Department of General Surgery, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel)

^IIIMedical Student, UFC

^IVTSA; MSc, UFC; Responsible for CET-IJF; Chairman of the Pediatric Anesthesia Committee, Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia (SBA) - 2011; Medicine Professor of Fachristus, Fortaleza, Ceará

^VPhD; Professor, Faculdade de Medicina, UFC; Corresponsible for the CET of the HGF from Hospital São Carlos, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several studies demonstrate that cerebral preconditioning is a protective mechanism against a stressful situation. Preconditioning determinants are described, as well as the neuroprotection provided by anesthetic and non-anesthetics agents.

CONTENT: Review based on the main articles addressing the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion and neuronal injury and pharmacological and non-pharmacological factors (inflammation, glycemia, and temperature) related to the change in response to ischemia-reperfusion, in addition

CONCLUSIONS: The brain has the ability to protect itself against ischemia when stimulated. The elucidation of this mechanism enables the application of preconditioning inducing substances (some anesthetics), other drugs, and non-pharmacological measures, such as hypothermia, aimed at inducing tolerance to ischemic lesions.

Keywords: Ischemic Preconditioning; Ischemia; Central Nervous System; Anesthetics; Hypothermia.

Introduction

The ability to respond to stressful situations is a fundamental property of all living organisms¹. Surviving a sublethal insult may result in a protective state to a subsequent lethal insult. This phenomenon is seen in various organs, particularly brain and heart, and called cerebral preconditioning (CP) or ischemic tolerance (IT)². The first in vivo evidences of CP dates back to the 1960s^3,4. Nearly three decades have passed with no interest from researchers on this mechanism, until Kitagawa et al.⁵ started the era of ischemic tolerance research.

The main pathophysiological aspects involved in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion are caused by the excitotoxic actions of glutamate, ATP consumption, changes in ionic homeostasis, and formation of free radicals. Anesthetics, hypothermia, sodium channel blockers, and ascorbic acid are among the many substances that provide protection to the nervous system acting on these points^6,7.

It occurs in two distinct time frames: early and late tolerance. Early tolerance main mechanism is the adaptation of membrane receptors, which can be achieved within minutes, but decreases rapidly within hours. Late tolerance, through gene activation with subsequent synthesis of new proteins, is achieved within hours and can last for several days².

In humans, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) may be a clinical sign of preconditioning. Mimicking the mechanisms of this process of endogenous protection is therefore a potential strategy for stroke prevention².

The relevance of brain protection in clinical practice can be found during cardiopulmonary resuscitation⁸ and before surgical procedures that intentionally require maintaining periods of cerebral ischemia/hypoperfusion. The anesthesiologist is then faced with the possibility of actively preparing the nervous system for the ischemia-reperfusion events and thereby preventing possible related injuries.

Pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion and neuronal injury

The brain performs its functions through complex signaling pathways between nerve cells. Information transmission between neurons depends on tissue integrity⁹. The central nervous system consumes high levels of oxygen and glucose, which are metabolized by oxidative phosphorylation. The normal cerebral blood flow in humans fluctuates around 50 mL.100g^-1.min^-1; when this value reaches about 10 mL.100g^-1min^-1, it is estimated that a potential neuronal loss occurs, which leads to neurological function deterioration.

Complete cerebral ischemia or decreased cerebral blood flow, followed by reperfusion, triggers deep changes in neuronal metabolism. During ischemia, there are: increased cell catabolism; decreased amount of ATP available; Na+/K+-ATPase dysfunction; intracellular sodium accumulation; changes in membrane potential; cellular edema; and increased activity of excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate¹⁰. The anaerobic metabolism of glucose produces lactate and consequent increase in H+ concentration inside the cell¹¹.

With cerebral reperfusion, there is initially a supply of oxygen and glucose greater than the cell capacity to use it¹². Hyperglycemia results in increased concentration of lactic acid, which follows the initial phase of ischemia and exacerbates post-ischemic injuries. Electrochemical reduction of oxygen molecules forms reactive oxygen species leading to oxidative stress^13,14. Hydroxyl radical (OH^-), the most potent reactive oxygen species, acts on the breakdown of fatty acid molecules of the membrane. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase are enzyme systems involved in neutralizing these radicals. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E) are also responsible for some protection against these radicals^15,16.

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine are the nervous system main inhibitory neurotransmitters controlling the opening of chloride or potassium channels. GABA receptors are frequent targets of anesthetics that, besides reducing neuronal excitation, induce neuroprotection by reducing the excitotoxicity.

The major neuronal excitatory amino acid is glutamate, a metabotropic and ionotropic receptor agonist (NMDA and non-NMDA). Activation of ionotropic receptors results in the opening of an ion channel in the postsynaptic membrane. NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors open calcium channels. Non-NMDA receptors open channels that are permeable to sodium and potassium. Metabotropic receptors are linked to G protein, a second messenger that has a guanidine nucleoside. The binding of glutamate to its metabotropic receptors results in the activation of phospholipases A₂and C.

During reperfusion, synergistic action of reactive oxygen species and glutamate leads to increased metabolism of arachidonic acid into leukotrienes via lipoxygenase, thromboxanes, prostacyclins, and prostaglandins via the cyclooxygenase pathway^17-18. These molecules increased concentration seems to be involved in cytotoxic edema and the damage of organelles and plasma membranes¹⁹. The action of glutamate results in increased concentration of intracellular calcium. Excess calcium ion has a harmful effect due to the activation of proteases and phospholipases.

Despite the great importance given to calcium regarding the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion, several studies evaluating the effect of substances that decrease calcium entry into the cell failed to establish the efficacy of this approach in neuroprotection ¹⁰. Voltage-independent calcium channels are divided into four subtypes, characterized by threshold activation, conductance, and location²⁰. The N-type and L-type seem to be involved in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion. N-type channels are related to the release of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft and L-type channels are related to changes in neuron metabolism. Substances derived from dihydropyridine and phenylalkylamine act by blocking the L-type calcium channel. Experimental models of focal ischemia associate its use with a decrease in mortality and neurological function improvement ²¹.

Alpha-2 agonists in vivo have been shown to attenuate neurological injuries after ganglionic blockade with hexamethonium in rat models of incomplete cerebral ischemia²². The development of an anesthetic with an adjunct α-2 agonist action must include its use as a neuroprotective agent²³.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas that acts as a neuromodulator in glutaminergic synapses by oxidizing sulfhydryl residues of NMDA receptors, inactivating them²⁴. NO can also react with oxygen radicals and generate reactive nitrogen species, which react with the proton (H+) and produce the potent hydroxyl radical²⁵.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria. A small dose of LPS can result in brain ischemic tolerance (BIT). This has been proven by a number of experiments, which included both transient and permanent focal ischemia models. However, high doses of LPS had no effect on CP²⁶.

Consequences of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion may be limited to the action on membrane lipids of cellular proteins and thus be quickly reversed. When changes are of sufficient magnitude to impair RNA transcription or alter the DNA itself, there will be cellular death, which is an irreversible phenomenon¹⁰.

In cerebral infarction, necrosis occurs in the central area. Peripheral changes are not as severe as central changes; neurons die more slowly and mainly by apoptosis²⁷. This process involves the mitochondrial cytochrome-c, caspase activation, and other pro-apoptotic factors. Cytokines, such as IL-1, contribute to the occurrence of this neurodegeneration.

Therapies with potential to act on various neuroprotective inducers are more effective than mono-focal therapies. For example, MK-801 (NMDA antagonist) is an excitotoxicity suppressor of cell death, but seems to exacerbate apoptotic injury²⁴.

Determinants of ischemic tolerance

Several animal models experiments of global and focal ischemia confirmed that the ischemic tolerance concept, introduced two decades ago and initially based on myocardium observations, may be extended to cerebral ischemic injury^28-30. Therefore, it is understood that brief ischemic episodes protect the brain against subsequent more severe ischemia.

Besides sublethal ischemia, other conditions, such as hyperthermia³¹, hypothermia³², hypoglycemia³³, and pharmacological agents (e.g., antibiotics, erythropoietin, acetylsalicylic acid, and volatile anesthetics) induce ischemic tolerance ^34-37.

The initial phase of ischemic tolerance (up to 30 minutes after a sublethal insult) is likely due to metabolic transmembrane flow events. The delayed phase of tolerance (after 24 hours) involves genetic induction and protein synthesis^38,39. Molecules, such as adenosine, hypoxia inducing factor-1α, TNF-α, reactive oxygen species, NO, and other events involving NMDA receptor activation and intracellular calcium influx have been implicated in tolerance to ischemia.

Although the precise mechanisms of IT are not fully elucidated, CP is a therapeutic strategy for brain damage improvement in patients at high risk for ischemic brain injury.

Inflammation

Cerebral ischemia leads to immune reaction, with nonspecific inflammatory cell infiltration, peripheral leukocytes migration to brain, and microglia activation⁴⁰. Moreover, ischemic neurons release inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-α). Glia lead to the generation of adhesion molecules (selectins, integrins, intercellular adhesion) in cerebral vasculature, resulting in increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and culminating in edema formation ^41,42.

Cytokine secretion and proteases, such as metalloproteinases, causes further disruption of the extracellular matrix and BBB. Although IL-1 is responsible for cerebral ischemic injury, the functions of other cytokines such as IL-6 (a proinflammatory cytokine) and IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) are less clear. TNF-α is not only responsible for ischemic brain inflammation⁴³, but plays a role in propagating brain injury^44,45.

Nimesulide, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, has been shown to attenuate lesion in the hippocampus CA1 region in a gerbil model when administered orally or intraperitoneally as a pre- or post-treatment of up to 24 hours⁴⁶. Additional experimental studies in animal models are needed to confirm these findings and frame them in a clinical paradigm.

Immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine and acrolimus, are immunophilin and calcineurin inhibitors and potent apoptosis inducers. Administration of both agents for three days before ischemia provided seven days of neuroprotection in an animal model of global cerebral ischemia⁴⁷. These agents also attenuated the activity of calcineurin in CA1 and CA3 and dentate gyros of hippocampus within 24 hours after ischemic injury. Pretreatment with cyclosporin inhibits the dephosphorylation of proapoptotic BAD protein. Cyclosporin inability to cross the intact BBB is a significant therapeutic concern.

These agents require more rigorous testing for postischemia treatment in different animal species and global models of cerebral ischemia³⁹.

Glycemia

A series of traumatic brain injury studies of animal models⁴⁸, focal cerebral ischemia⁴⁹, and global cerebral ischemia⁵⁰found that glycemic control is a critical factor in IT. Several mechanisms have been proposed for brain injury genesis, including marked release of excitatory amino acids (EAAs), reduced release of neuroinhibitory transmitters⁵¹, massive deposition of neutrophils⁵², and mitochondrial damage by cytochrome-c activation, caspase-3 and caspase-9⁵³. These studies led to clinical observations that a poor glycemic control increases brain damage in ischemic stroke^54,55. Glycemic control with insulin showed better neurologic outcomes in critically ill patients, as well as in patients undergoing cardiac surgery^55,56. Although insulin therapy has shown improvement in brain damage in animal models of global cerebral ischemia⁵⁷, further clinical trials of glycemic control management with insulin therapy are needed.

Temperature

Functional outcome and histopathology of animal model experimental studies of global and focal cerebral ischemia provided evidence for the importance of brain temperature ⁵⁸. During a cerebral ischemic event, hyperthermia leads to incomplete normalization of phosphate metabolism, which results in microvascular injury and edema, leading to increased mortality⁵⁸. Spontaneous increases in body temperature have been reported after experimental focal and global ischemia and may be a consequence of brain damage⁵⁹.

Induced mild (34ºC) to moderate (30ºC) hypothermia reduces ischemic brain injury after experimental cardiac arrests⁶⁰. Neuroprotective mechanisms induced by hypothermia may be multifactorial and include biosynthesis pre- and post-synaptic processes, release and absorption of EAAs, decreased production of hydroxyl radical, membrane lipoprotein protection, intracellular acidosis, and demand for oxygen by the injured brain ⁶¹.

The neuroprotection induced by hypothermia can be divided into acute and delayed. Experts agree that the activation of cell signaling molecules, such as adenosine receptors, tyrosine kinase, and potassium channels, is important for the development of CP-induced ischemic or anesthetic events. Studies show that adenosine receptor activation may lead to the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, which induces the production of oxygen free radicals to activate the Ras/Raf pathway. This pathway is part of the kinase cascade and responsible for activating the Ras protein, a product of a proto-oncogene acting as a G protein (transmits signal through the exchange of GDP/GTP) and is associated with plasma membrane. The Ras protein activates a kinase cascade and is responsible for successive phosphorylations, starting with Raf activation, responsible for the activation of other proteins, up to the last one (MAP), which will activate transcription factors that will act on gene transcription, resulting in increased expression of genes responsible for insulin production and other growth factors involved in CP^62-66.

Hypothermia also inhibits the high-mobility group HMG-I(Y), an important nuclear transcription protein responsible for increased expression of NO synthetase, cyclooxygenase-2, and cytokines that, in turn, are responsible for the development of post-ischemia brain lesions. However, it is unclear whether preconditioning hypothermia-induced inhibition of protein expression HMG-I (Y) plays a role in the development of acute, delayed or of both neuroprotective phases⁶⁷.

Nishio et al.³² suggest that protein synthesis is required for developing preconditioning induced by hypothermia in the late neuroprotection phase.

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated better neurological outcome and reduced mortality in patients undergoing mild or moderate therapeutic hypothermia⁶⁷. Future studies should incorporate other pharmacological neuroprotective strategies combined with hypothermia, in order to achieve better results.

Calcium channel antagonists

Ca²⁺ is the final common pathway in excitotoxic neuronal injury.

Nimodipine, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker, has been studied in experimental models of global cerebral ischemia. Subcutaneous administration of nimodipine failed to show any neurological, histological, or functional improvement in rat models of global cerebral ischemia^68,69. However, treatment with intravenous nimodipine in a rabbit model reduced EEG recovery time, attenuated the decrease of extracellular Ca²⁺ and decreased BBB disruption. In this study, blood pressure was maintained at 100 mm Hg after ischemic insult, which offset the hypotensive adverse effects of nimodipine.

A double-blind, prospective, randomized trial of nimodipine in patients who had ventricular fibrillation outside hospitals failed to show any improvement in survival rate for one year; however, it did show some benefit in patients with resuscitation delayed for more than 10 minutes⁷⁰.

NMDA Receptor antagonists

Pre- and post-treatment with dextrorphan (NMDA receptor antagonist) improved histological damage in the hippocampus and cortex of ischemic model in rats and attenuated the loss of calcium-dependent protein kinase activity, such as calmodulin⁷¹.

Although dizocilpine (another NMDA receptor antagonist) has shown significant histological neuroprotection in animal models of global cerebral ischemia⁷², its use in clinical courses of ischemic insults produced significant adverse events (delirium, psychosis, hallucinations)⁷³.

GABA agonists

The premise of using gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) or its agonists as neuroprotectors is based on their inhibitory properties in opening chloride channels³⁹. Pretreatment with GABA demontratedly attenuates histological injury and improves the nervous system's behavior in a model of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils⁷⁴. The treatments after the insult failed to show any improvement in these parameters.

Clormetiazol, a GABA agonist with anticonvulsant, hypnotic, and sedative properties, showed no improvement in histological damage or neurobehavior in a murine model of global cerebral ischemia⁷⁵. Furthermore, local infusion of clormetiazol through microdialysis did not change the release of dopamine, serotonin or its induced-ischemia metabolitesin the ischemic stratum ⁷⁵.

Intraperitoneal administration of G-hydroxybutyrate improved histological and neurobehavioral injury in a murine model of global cerebral ischemia⁷⁶.

The use of tiagabine, a selective inhibitor of GABA uptake, resulted in no histological improvement in a gerbil model when given as a pretreatment⁷⁷.

Anticonvulsants

The basis for using anticonvulsants in ischemic neuroprotection is its ability to stabilize neurons by hyperpolarization of membrane potential by blocking voltage-dependent Na⁺channel³⁹.

Treatment with phenytoin reduces K⁺ accumulation in cerebrospinal fluid of animals undergoing circulatory arrest. Some studies of phenytoin therapy showed decreased cerebral edema, increased activity of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase enzyme, decreased intracellular Na⁺concentration, and reduced accumulation of lactate and free fatty acids⁷⁸.

The use of lamotrigine reduced the increase of extracellular glutamate levels induced by ischemia, with histologic improvement in models of global cerebral ischemia (rats and gerbils)⁷⁹.

Erythromycin

Studies of erythromycin showed improvement in neurological function and increased neuronal survival after ischemia⁸⁰.

The neuroprotective effect of erythromycin in mice is associated with increased expression of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2.

Pretreatment with erythromycin 12 hours before the ischemic event improved postischemic neuronal survival in hippocampal areas (CA1 and CA3) and reduced functional deficit. Studies indicate that the neuroprotective effect of erythromycin lasts up to seven days.

This erythromycin effect suggests a clinical strategy of ischemic preconditioning, which could be beneficial to patients scheduled for surgical procedures associated with increased risk of perioperative cerebral ischemia (e.g., cardiovascular surgery or neurosurgery). Future studies are needed to determine the clinical role of this novel method of neuroprotection and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved.

Neuroprotection induced by anesthetics

Several studies in vitro⁸⁵ and in vivo in the last 20 years have reported neuroprotection induced by anesthesia ^86,87in different species ^88-90 and in hemispheric ⁹²and global^93,95models of focal ischemia^91,92.

Most anesthetic agents have neuroprotective properties, although neuroprotection is not correlated with anesthetic efficacy. The use of anesthetics to induce neuroprotection depends not only on its potency, but also on the administration method, side effects, and patient tolerability.

A major concern is the apparent lack of long-term neuroprotective effects of some anesthetic agents ^81.82.

GABAergic agents

The main receptor of volatile anesthetics is believed to be GABA⁸³.

The inhibitory neurotransmission via GABA receptor modulation contributes to anesthesia. Therefore, it is not surprising that reduced neuronal excitability induced by GABAergic agents may also reduce excitotoxicity.

Sanders et al. ⁷reported neuroprotection induced by GABAergic anesthetic agents using examples of volatile and intravenous agents. This study considered the suppression of cerebral metabolic rate (CMR) as a possible mechanism of neuroprotection induced by anesthetics.

Volatile anesthetics

The neuroprotective potential of volatile anesthetics, particularly isoflurane, was highlighted by some authors⁸⁴. Isoflurane has shown to be an anesthetic agent with significant neuroprotective effects, with the ability to reduce excitotoxicity.

Isoflurane proved to be a superior neuroprotective agent to a combined regimen of nitrous oxide and fentanyl in mice assessed three days after bilateral carotid artery occlusion in cognitive and histological function tests⁹⁴. Additionally, in a model of traumatic brain injury in rats, isoflurane provided better neuroprotection than fentanyl when both were administered in combination with nitrous oxide²⁸.

Some studies suggest that isoflurane reduces the cerebral metabolic rate and, therefore, inhibits excitotoxicity. This effect appears to be independent of peri-ischemic cerebral blood flow, despite isoflurane vasodilating properties⁹⁵. The neuroprotective effect of anesthetics is also independent of intracranial pressure.

Isoflurane reduced neurological deficit in about 20% of the sample in a canine model of cardiac arrest, compared to control group⁸⁸. Administration of isoflurane for 5 hours post-injury showed reduced excitotoxicity mediated by α-amino-d-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPA) injury, a subtype of glutamate receptors⁸⁶. In contrast with pentobarbital, which was effective only at a cerebral suppression dose, isoflurane was effective in anesthetic doses.

Another volatile anesthetic, desflurane, also showed neuroprotective properties equivalent to those of isoflurane in an animal model of incomplete cerebral ischemia, and both agents proved to be superior to fentanyl and nitrous oxide based anesthesia⁹⁶.

In vitro studies showed that the effect of reducing cerebral metabolic rate is not sufficient to explain the neuroprotective effects of volatile anesthetics.

Sanders et al.⁷used gabazine, a GABA receptor antagonist, to elucidate whether this effect could be attributed to these receptors. Gabazine showed a similar neuroprotective mechanism. Likewise, Bickler et al. ⁹⁷ showed that the neuroprotective effect of isoflurane is dependent on GABA receptors with the use of bicuculline, another GABA receptor antagonist.

Volatile anesthetics may also protect against glutamate excitotoxicity and promote its uptake. This action cannot be obtained with pentobarbital, an intravenous anesthetic agent that also exerts neuroprotective effect⁹⁸. Interestingly, isoflurane and thiopental share the ability to prevent decrease in phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK pp125), induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. The pp125 FAK interacts with cell survival cascades mediated by MAPK (ERK1 and 2) and AKT. However, despite interaction with these pathways, isoflurane showed no anti-apoptotic properties⁸².

Intravenous anesthetics

Barbiturates were introduced as effective neuroprotective agents and considered the "gold standard", compared to other neuroprotective agents. However, more recent data refute this status. In the early 1970s, Yatsu et al. ⁹⁹ reported that metohexital had neuroprotective activity. This study was followed by a series of studies reporting the neuroprotective efficacy of this class of agents. However, initial studies showed no temperature control and this led to overestimation of these drugs' effects.

In more controlled settings, barbiturates provide some protection, but not in terms of an impressive suppression of cerebral metabolic rate.

There was no difference in infarct volume after transient focal cerebral ischemia when comparing the use of low and high doses of thiopental, although these doses have clear differences in the ability to produce EEG suppression and, therefore, in brain metabolism¹⁰⁰. Pentobarbital showed 25% reduction of infarct volume in a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats 25% ¹⁰¹.

Direct comparison between metohexital and isoflurane shows that isoflurane MAC 2 was more potent against severe ischemia in rats than metohexital (0.1 mg.kg^-1.min^-1). The depression effect of cerebral metabolic rate was similar for both drugs; however, unlike isoflurane, metohexital anesthetic doses have no neuroprotective effects during complete ischemia¹⁰².

Barbiturates have neuroprotective efficacy against less severe insults. Milde et al.¹⁰³ found no difference between thiopental and isoflurane during temporary focal ischemia. However, a previous study had shown that in baboons, thiopental was a neuroprotective agent superior to isoflurane, although this study has shown the major hemodynamic difference bias between groups¹⁰⁴.

Zausinger et al.¹⁰⁵recently compared in a model of transient focal ischemia in rats two combination therapies: the common treatment regimen (CTR) with nimodipine, mannitol, dexamethasone, and methohexital and the alternate treatment regimen (ATR) with magnesium, tirilazad, and mild hypothermia. Monotherapy with metohexital was effective and dexamethasone, mannitol, and nimodipine, alone or in combination, were not effective. CTR was not more effective than metohexital as a therapy, although it significantly reduced infarct volume. ATR was very effective and reduced infarction in 73% of samples without resulting in neurological deficit. This effect was significantly higher than CTR. Furthermore, hypothermia has shown neuroprotective effects in clinical trials¹⁰⁶, and pharmacological agents are likely to be judged as adjuvant therapy in this setting. In this study, barbiturates showed no additional protective benefit over hypothermia alone¹⁰⁷.

Clinical trials investigating the neuroprotective effects of barbiturates yielded contradictory results. Ward et al.¹⁰⁸ used barbiturates in 53 patients with traumatic skull-brain injury, and neurological outcome was similar to the control group.

In contrast to hypothermia, thiopental is an ineffective neuroprotective agent to follow cardiac arrest¹⁰⁹. Thiopental administered at doses to produce EEG suppression¹¹⁰ was ineffective in preventing strokes in patients with coronary artery bypass grafting. Thiopental was also associated with prolonged extubation and higher pressure requirements. In contrast, Nussmeier et al.¹¹¹ showed that thiopental exerted neuroprotection during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at normothermia¹¹¹and reduced stroke incidence. Numerous differences in study methodologies could explain this discrepancy, which included air embolism, normothermia, hypothermia, and duration of therapy with barbiturates. However, this study of 182 patients is the only clinical trial suggesting the neuroprotective effect of barbiturates.

Thus, barbiturates may provide modest neuroprotection, but are not superior to other anesthetics, besides being potentially less additives when combined with hypothermia.

Propofol

Propofol has proved itself to be neuroprotective in vivo in models of focal ¹¹² and Global¹¹³cerebral ischemia. This anesthetic-induced neuroprotection is most likely due to its antioxidant effects, the activation of its phenolic hydroxyl group. However, the hypothesis of CP induced by its effect on glutamate uptake, dopamine release or GABA receptor activation is not dismissed. The use of propofol also resulted in up-regulation of Bcl-2 and mdm-2 expression and downregulation of Bax expression after brain ischemia in rats, which show an anti-apoptotic action of this drug. However, this action has not been histologically documented¹¹⁴.

Clinically, cerebral suppression doses of propofol were not superior to sufentanil after open-heart surgery, assessed by the incidence of cognitive dysfunction, depression, or anxiety ¹¹⁵.

Alfa-2 agonists

The use of in vivo α2-agonists agents reduced neurological blockade after ganglionic injury with hexamethonium in a model of incomplete cerebral ischemia in rats¹¹⁶. This neuroprotective effect is partially reversed by intravenous administration of norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Subsequently, it became evident that neurological outcome is improved in rats receiving clonidine after incomplete cerebral ischemia by decreasing high catecholamine levels in blood¹¹⁷.

Administration of dexmedetomidine pre-ischemia significantly reduced the levels of plasma catecholamines and decreased neurological comorbidities at functional and pathophysiological parameters ¹¹⁸. Furthermore, Maier et al.¹¹⁹ reported neuroprotective effects even when dexmedetomidine was administered in a model of transient focal ischemia in rabbits (plasma concentration 4 ng.mL^-1) ¹¹⁹.

The clinical use of α2-agonists as neuroprotective agents has not been determined.

NMDA antagonists

Ketamine, nitrous oxide, and xenon have anesthetic action by antagonizing NMDA glutamate receptors. The key-role of NMDA receptor in neurotoxicity led to numerous investigations of these anesthetics' potential to induce neuronal survival after injury.

The use of this class of agents has been hampered by psychomimetic effects associated with neuronal vacuolation in the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortex ¹²⁰. These psychomimetic side effects may worsen during ischemia¹²¹, adding concern regarding the use of these agents as neuroprotectors.

While in vitro ketamine shows neuroprotective effects¹²², in vivo results were not consistent. Proescholdt et al.¹²³ reported that S-(+) ketamine showed neuroprotective potency over R-(+) ketamine and racemic mixture. This difference in neuroprotective efficacy is consistent with the larger hypnotic and analgesic effects of S-(+) ketamine.

Very high doses of ketamine are necessary to achieve its ischemic protection ability¹²⁴. However, high doses increase the risk of adverse effects, such as seizures and psychomimetic disorders. Nevertheless, high-dose ketamine has neuroprotective effects on cortical ischemia in vivo^123-124.

Ketamine was similar to remifentanil in a randomized controlled trial comparing the neuroprotective efficacy in open-heart surgery in combination with propofol¹²⁵. The vasodilatory effect of ketamine may increase emboli movement, an event that could reduce its neuroprotective effect.

Arrowsmith et al.¹²⁶ reported a neuroprotective effect of this anesthetic during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), with perioperative application of the NMDA antagonist remacemide, although it was only similar to a secondary endpoint.

One hundred and seventy-one patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery pre- and post-operatively. There was no significant difference between groups on individual tests; however, the overall change in the postoperative period was better in the remacemide group.

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide has the neuroprotective and neurotoxic characteristics of a NMDA antagonist¹²⁷. However, numerous studies have identified that the neuroprotection induced by nitrous oxide combined with an opioid is less potent than that induced by an inhaled anesthetics. Recently, experiments demonstrated that nitrous oxide has no neuroprotective effects in rats¹²⁸.

Xenon

Xenon's ability to act as a neuroprotective agent was demonstrated in several neuronal injury paradigms.

Xenon in vitro reduced cortical injury in rats, induced by NMDA, glutamate, or oxygen deprivation¹²⁹. Another in vitro study showed that 50% xenon might reduce neuronal cell death induced by hypoxia¹³⁰, an effect that could be partly antagonized by calcium.

In clinical practice, xenon administration is usually given in combination with other anesthetics. Recently, it was demonstrated that co-administration of isoflurane synergistically increases xenon neuroprotection in vitro. This can be of great clinical importance, as xenon on its own is not sufficiently potent to induce anesthesia because of its higher MAP value (63-71%), aside from being extremely expensive. Additionally, the possibility of synergic multimodal therapies administration is likely to provide long-term neuroprotection.

Xenon attenuated neuronal damage induced by N-methylD-aspartate (NMDA) administration in rats¹²⁹. Sanders et al.¹³⁰reported its neuroprotective effect in a model of focal ischemia with 70% xenon administration during ischemia induced by cerebral artery occlusion in rats and showed a significant reduction in total infarct size, cortical and subcortical, compared to nitrous oxide¹³⁰. Xenon provided superior neurocognitive protection than nitrous oxide, as shown by two of the three cognitive tests performed 24 hours after ischemia.

In a study evaluating the effect of xenon on a model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)¹³¹, we observed an attenuation of cognitive dysfunction caused by CPB up to 12 days after injury, an effect that was greater than that observed with the prototypical NMDA antagonist, MK801.

Some neurological injuries, such as perinatal brain injury, may not be predicted and, therefore, a neuroprotective agent cannot be administered before its occurrence. Therefore, research on the effectiveness of an agent with post-injury administration is important for clinical application in these scenarios. In a model of transient global ischemia, which occluded the middle cerebral artery in adult rats during 90 minutes, 50% xenon administered over 3 hours, starting 15 minutes after the insult, significantly reduced the neuronal damage in the striatum cortex. However, this study showed that 70% xenon was ineffective¹³². Theoretically, postischemic treatment with xenon may be used in neurological conditions, such as stroke.

Xenon MAP is estimated at 63% to 71%; thus, the concentrations needed for neuroprotection are significantly subanesthetic. In contrast with other drugs requiring anesthetic or supra-anesthetic doses to act as neuroprotective agents, xenon can be effective in clinically acceptable concentrations, when anesthesia is not required or may be detrimental (e.g., patients with cardiovascular impairment).

Unlike other NMDA antagonist receptors, xenon does not induce damage to the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial cortex ¹³³. Nagata et al.¹³⁴ demonstrated that xenon might improve the neurotoxic effect of other NMDA antagonists.

Recent in vitro investigations have suggested that xenon acts not only on NMDA receptors, but also activates the two pore domain of potassium channel TREK-1. TREK-1 channels are activated by intracellular acidosis, reduce neuronal excitability, and contribute to neuroprotection¹³⁵.

Conclusion

The brain has the ability to protect itself against ischemia when stimulated by appropriate factors. The elucidation of this mechanism resulted in the possibility of applying CP-inducing substances, such as some anesthetics, in medical practice. In operations requiring periods of ischemia or cerebral hypoperfusion, the anesthesiologist may intervene with drug administration and non-pharmacological measures, such as hypothermia, aiming at inducing tolerance to ischemic lesions.

Thus, defining the best strategy for nervous system protection is of paramount importance in reducing intraoperative neuropsychological impairment.

Combined inhaled anesthetics, such as isoflurane and xenon, is a good pharmacological alternative for intraoperative CP consolidation and, perhaps, against nonsurgical damages. Future studies may elucidate the most effective drug combination that could contribute to a better management of IT.

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Anesthetics, cerebral protection and preconditioning

Rogean Rodrigues Nunes^I; Gastão Fernandes Duval Neto^II; Júlio César Garcia de Alencar^III; Suyane Benevides Franco^III; Nayanna Quezado de Andrade^III; Danielle Maia Holanda Dumaresq^IV; Sara Lúcia Cavalcante^V

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
22 Feb 2013
Date of issue
Feb 2013

History

Received
14 Oct 2011
Accepted
16 June 2012

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Koerner IP, Alkayed NJ - Ischemic preconditioning. Em: Bhardwaj A, Alkayed NJ, Kirsch JR et al. - Acute stroke, bench to bedside. New York, Informa Helthcare, 2006;345-353.

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