Sevoflurane is biotransformed by guinea pig liver slices but causes minimal cytotoxicity

Guinea pig liver slices were used to evaluate the biotransformation and hepatotoxic potential of sevoflurane. Precision-cut liver slices (250-300 μm thick) were incubated in sealed roller vials in buffer at 37°C under 95% O₂. Sevoflurane was added to produce 0.9 or 2.1 mM medium concentrations. After incubation (6-24 h), the intracellular K⁺ content and protein synthesis were determined, along with the defluorination of sevoflurane. Isoflurane was included for comparative purposes. Sevoflurane (2.1 mM) and isoflurane (2.3 mM) had no effect on slice K⁺ content, but both anesthetics depressed protein synthesis. The biotransformation of sevoflurane was maximal at 95% O₂, with threefold more F^- produced from sevoflurane than isoflurane. Sevoflurane appears to have a minimal effect on the guinea pig liver slices, which is consistent with in vivo studies in which minimal or no hepatotoxicity has been observed.