Objective  To investigate the effects of sevoflurane (Sev) on renal renal function, renal tubular necrosis rate and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) of rats with renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).

  Methods  Forty-five healthy rats were randomly divided into MB group (sham operation group), YB group (IRI model group) and ZL group (SEV plus IRI), with 15 rats in each group. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr), expression of renal histomology, score of renal tubular necrosis rate, positive expressions of eNOS and inductive nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells were compared among the three groups.

  Results  Compared with the MB group, the levels of BUN and Cr at 4, 12 and 24 h in the YB group and the ZL group increased significantly, and the levels of BUN and Cr at 12 and 24 h in the YB group were significantly higher than those in the ZL group (P < 0.05). In the MB group, the renal tissue cells were arranged neatly and the spacing of cells was uniform. In the YB group, the renal tubules showed dilatation, disorganized tissues, flat cells with multiple necrosis, flaky lesions, obvious interstitial hyperemia and granulocyte invasion. In the ZL group, the lesion range and hyperemia were improved. The Paller scores of renal tubules at 4, 12 and 24 h in the YB and ZL groups were significantly higher than that in the MB group, and the Paller scores of renal tubules at 4, 12 and 24 h in the YB group were significantly higher than that in the ZL group (P < 0.05). Compared with the MB group, the positive expression of eNOS was decreased while the positive expression of iNOS was increased in the YB group, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05). Compared with the YB group, the positive expression of eNOS was increased while the positive expression of iNOS was decreased in the ZL group, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rates of renal tubular epithelial cells in the YB group and the ZL group were significantly higher than that in the MB group, and the apoptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells in the YB group was significantly higher than that in the ZL group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Sev intervention can improve the renal function of renal IRI rats, reduce the necrosis rate of renal tubule, protect renal function, and the mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of eNOS expression.