Sevoflurane and isoflurane genotoxicity in kidney cells of mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA damage and repair in kidney cells of Swiss albino mice after repeated exposure to sevoflurane and isoflurane and compare their detrimental effects. We used the alkaline comet assay to establish the genetic damage and measured three parameters: tail length, tail moment, and tail intensity of comets. These parameters were measured immediately after exposure to the above mentioned inhalation anaesthetics, two hours, six hours, and 24 hours later and were compared with the control group. Mean values of all three parameters were significantly higher in experimental groups compared to the control group. DNA damage in kidney cells of mice exposed to sevoflurane increased continuously before it reached its peak 24 hours after exposure. Isoflurane induced the highest DNA damage two hours after exposure. Levels of DNA damage recorded 24 h after cessation of exposure to both tested compounds suggest that sevoflurane was slightly more genotoxic than isoflurane to kidney cells of mice. According to these results, the currently used volatile anaesthetics sevoflurane and isoflurane are able to damage DNA in kidney cells of mice. Such findings suggest a possibility for similar outcomes in humans and that fact must be taken into account in everyday clinical practice.