The influence of sevoflurane on the reactivity of astrocytes in the course of the experimental intracerebral haemorrhage in rat.

40 adult Wistar rats were divided into two groups depending on the applied anaesthesia. In both groups animals were generally anaesthetized with fentanyl, dehydrobenzperidol administered intraperitoneally and midazolam given intramuscularly. In the second group (SEVO) animals received sevoflurane of 2.2 vol% end-tidal concentration. Intracerebral haematoma was produced through infusion of 100 microl of autologous blood into the striatum. Each group was divided into five subgroups depending on the length of survival period: 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 days. The astrocytic population was studied by means of anti-GFAP staining. Stereological analysis was applied to estimate the numerical density of immunoreactive cells and the distribution of their types. On 7th day of observation the density of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in SEVO was lower (p<0,05) than that in the control group. In the control group, the increase (p<0.05) of per cent of activated astrocytes between the 1st and 3rd survival day was noted, which remained at this level till the end of observation. In SEVO group, the increase (p<0.05) of per cent of activated astrocytes between the 3rd and 7th day and the decrease (p<0.05) between the 14th and 21st survival day were observed. During days of observation the per cent of activated astrocytes was lower (p<0.05) in the SEVO group than that in the control group. Administration of sevoflurane during anaesthesia to animals with intracerebral haemorrhage has evoked not only the delay of the activation of astrocytes but also decrease in its level.