Objective To investigate the effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on aquaporin-9 (AQP-9) expression in brain tissue after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Seventy-five male SD rats weighing 230-270 g were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n =25 each):group sham operation (group S) ; group I/R and group sevoflurane anesthesia (group SE).All the animals were tracheally intubated under 2.0％ sevoflurane and mechanically ventilated.Anesthesia was maintained with fentanyl infusion at 25 μg· kg-1 · h-1 after a bolus of fentanyl 10 μg/kg and inhalation of 65％ N2O in O2 in groups S and I/R and with inhalation of 2％ sevoflurane in 35％ O2 in group SE.Focal cerebral ischemin was induced by occlusion of middle cerebral artery for 2 h using a nylon thread with rounded tip which was inserted into the right internal carotid artery and advanced cranially until resistance was met.The neurologic function was assessed and scored (0=no deficit,4 =unable to move,unconscious) and brain edema rate (volume of ischemic hemisphere-volume of contralateral hemisphere ÷volume of contralateral hemisphere × 100％ ) and expression of AQP-9 were determined at 6 h,1,2,3 and 5 d of reperfusion.Results Focal cerebral I/R significantly increased neurologic deficit scores,brain edema rate and AQP-9 expression in brain tissue in group I/R as compared with group S.Sevoflurane anesthesia significantly attenuated the I/R-induced increase in neurologic deficit scores and brain edema rate and further increased I/R-induced increase in AQP-9 expression in brain tissue.Conclusion Sevoflurane anesthesia can reduce focal cerebral I/R injury by up-regulating the expression of AQP-9 in brain tissue.