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REVIEW article

Front. Neurosci.

Sec. Neuropharmacology

Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1646246

Deciphering Sevoflurane-induced Neurotoxicity: From Isolated Targets to Intricate Regulatory Networks

Provisionally accepted
Yue  ShuYue Shu1,2Liang  BaiLiang Bai3Shouyang  YuShouyang Yu4Yulan  LiYulan Li1,2*
  • 1Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
  • 2Lanzhou University First Hospital, Lanzhou, China
  • 3Zunyi Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Zunyi, China
  • 4Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Among the 321 million surgeries performed globally each year, sevoflurane dominates the inhaled anesthesia field due to its unique pharmacological properties. However, studies indicate that sevoflurane exerts multiple adverse effects on the nervous system, and its potential neurotoxic effects are increasingly drawing attention. This article integrates multi-level evidence from molecular mechanisms, cellular models, animal experiments, and clinical studies to comprehensively elucidate the key mechanisms underlying sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity, including ferroptosis pathway activation, calcium homeostasis disruption, BDNF signaling abnormalities, neuroinflammatory responses, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. The findings aim to provide a theoretical foundation for developing precise neuroprotective strategies and optimizing clinical anesthesia protocols.

Keywords: sevoflurane, ferroptosis, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Neuroinflammation, BDNF, Apoptosis

Received: 13 Jun 2025; Accepted: 04 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Shu, Bai, Yu and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Yulan Li, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.