Ouabain blocks Na+/K+-ATPase and was used as positive control for blocking the transporter. The other half was incubated with solution A. Subsequent plates were washed with 1 ml/well of solution A and incubated for 5 min with 0·6 ml/well of solution A supplemented with 1 µCi/ml 86RbCl LY2835219 clinical trial (370 MBq/mg Rb). Uptake was stopped by washing the cells twice

with 1 ml/well of ice-cold rinsing solution containing the following (in mM): 140 N-methylglucamine, 1·2 MgCl2, 3 NaCl2, 10 HEPES and 0·1% BSA at pH 7·4. Solubilized cells were traced by liquid scintillation counting. All chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich and culture media and their reagents from Invitrogen. Radioactive tracers were supplied by PerkinElmer AG. Statistical analysis.  Each experimental set-up was performed three times, each conducted in sextuplet.

Data of the three experiments were taken together and analysed (n = 18). Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (s.d.). Optical analysis of box-plots suggested normal distribution Poziotinib cost of data. Confirmation was performed using a Shapiro–Wilk test. The effects of sevoflurane were compared with the control group (PBS group) for K+- and Na+-influx and tested by analysis of variances for repeated measurements [one-way analysis of variance (anova)], including a Tukey–Kramer multiple comparison test. Graphpad Prism4® Graphpad Instat3® (GraphPad software, La Jolla, CA, USA) was used for statistical analyses. P-values <0·05 were considered statistically significant. Animal preparation.  After approval from the local animal care and use committee (Zürich, Switzerland), experiments were performed with pathogen-free, male Wistar rats (Charles River, Sulzfeld, Germany) (body weight 350–500 g). The rats were kept in standard cages at 22°C (12-h light/12-h dark). Food

and water were supplied ad libitum. Induction of anaesthesia and monitoring was performed as described previously [26]. Rats were tracheotomized. After insertion of a sterile metal cannula, animals were ventilated in parallel (Servo Farnesyltransferase Ventilator 300, Maquet, Solna, Sweden). Pressure-controlled ventilation was set with 30 breaths per minute, pressure was 3/14 cm H2O, inspiration to expiration ratio 1 : 2 and fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2) was 100%. Arterial blood was analysed at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h. Using 100% FiO2 during the whole experiment, the oxygen capability of the lung is represented by the oxygen tension (PaO2 in mmHg) in arterial blood gas samples (oxygenation index: PaO2/FiO2). Body temperature was controlled by rectal temperature measurement and corrected to 37°C by a heating lamp. Experimental design.  Rats were randomized into three different groups, using sealed envelopes: (a) propofol/PBS; (b) propofol/LPS and (c) sevoflurane/LPS (n = 6 in all groups).