Norepinephrine-induced Apoptosis Is Inhibited in Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes Exposed to Volatile Anesthetics

Abstract

Volatile anesthetics offer significant protection against beta-adrenergic apoptotic death signaling in ventricular cardiomyocytes. The authors present evidence that this protection is mainly mediated through modulation of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and inhibition of the apoptosis initiator caspase-9.