Fig. 1.

The ultrastructure of the capillaries (A, F) in the control group, (B, G) after sevoflurane exposure for 2 h, (C) after sevoflurane exposure for 4 h, (D, H) after sevoflurane exposure for 6 h, (E) after sevoflurane exposure for 24 h, (I) after sevoflurane exposure for 48 h, and (J) quantification of blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption at each time point. The X axis shows sevoflurane exposure time and time after sevoflurane exposure for 6 h (24 h and 48 h after the end of anesthesia). In the control group, the capillaries were continuous and integrated, and the perivascular spaces were normal. However, the ultrastructural integrity of the BBB began to be disrupted after 2 h of sevoflurane exposure as perivascular spaces were enlarged. Sevoflurane exposure induced BBB opening in a duration-dependent manner. Additionally, the effect of sevoflurane exposure on the BBB opening was reversible as the enlarged perivascular spaces recovered gradually 24–48 h after sevoflurane exposure. The destroyed perivascular space was counted and presented as percentage of capillary ultrastructural destroyed (%). Values are presented as mean ± SD. n = 3 in each group. (F, G, and H) show higher magnifications of the insets square in (A, B, and D), respectively. Scale bars are shown on the right lower panels.