The effects of inhalational anesthetics on ischemic injury of rat kidney with renovascular occlusion.

The effects of halogenated inhalational anesthetics, viz. halothane, enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane, on ischemic rat kidneys were studied through the response of renal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the brush border of proximal tubules to monoclonal antibodies. Brush border staining characteristics were evaluated as follows: a) continuous (normal), b) discontinuous (damaged) and c) indistinct (necrotic). The isoflurane group had significantly fewer damaged and/or necrotic proximal tubules compared to the other groups. These results suggest that isoflurane is the most appropriate inhalational anesthetic when renal circulation is impaired.