Role of the L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway in renal ischaemia-reperfusion in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) pathway during renal ischaemia-reperfusion in rats.


METHODS
Randomised experimental study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Brazil.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester--an inhibitor of NO production) (n = 10 each).


METHODS
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 ischaemia-reperfusion 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).


CONCLUSIONS
The L-arginine/NO pathway seems to have a slightly protective effect on the kidney after renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats. These results need to be confirmed by studies in human beings.
Rhoden
E L
EL
Medical Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. ernanirhod@cpovo.net
Pereira-Lima
L
L
Rhoden
C R
CR
Lucas
M L
ML
Telöken
C
C
Belló-Klein
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000502:physiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D003404:Creatinine