Role of the L-Arginine/Nitric Oxide Pathway in Renal Ischaemia-reperfusion in Rats

Author： Rhoden Ernani Luís Pereira-Lima Luiz Rhoden Cláudia Ramos Lucas Márcio Luís Telöken Cláudio Belló-Klein Adriane

ISSN： 1102-4151

Source： European Journal of Surgery, Vol.167, Iss.3, 2001-03, pp. : 224-228

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Abstract

Objective: To study the role of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway during renal ischaemia-reperfusion in rats.Design: Randomised experimental study.Setting: Teaching hospital, Brazil.Animals: 97 male Wistar rats randomly assigned to 4 groups for the assessment of renal dysfunction and to 6 groups for the assessment of the oxidative stress induced on renal cell membranes by ischaemia-reperfusion. Interventions: The animals underwent sham-operation or renal ischaemia-reperfusion (n = 9 each) with or without pretreatment with L-arginine (a NO donor) or L-NAME (N_ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester - an inhibitor of NO production) (n = 10 each).Main outcome measures: Serum creatinine concentrations and oxidative stress by chemiluminescence initiated by the tert-butyl hydroperoxide technique.Results: Renal ischaemia-reperfusion significantly worsened renal dysfunction and increased oxidative stress in the ischaemiareperfusion group after 24 and 96 hours of reperfusion compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with L-NAME slightly but not significantly increased serum creatinine concentrations after 24 and 96 hours of reperfusion together with activity of reactive oxygen species during renal ischaemia-reperfusion. L-arginine also significantly protected renal function and reduced the increment in the amount of chemiluminescence induced by giving L-NAME during 24 and 96 hours of reperfusion (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The L-arginine/NO pathway seems to have a slightly protective effect on the kidney after renal ischaemiareperfusion injury in rats. These results need to be confirmed by studies in human beings.