title: GSPE is superior to NAC in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: might this superiority be related to caspase 1 and calpain 1?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study was intended to evaluate the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), caspases 1 and 3 and calpain 1 in the pathogenesis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and to compare the protective effects of N acetyl cysteine (NAC) and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) against the development of CIN.
  
  
  METHODS
  32 rats were divided into four groups; control, contrast media (CM), CM+NAC and CM+GSPE. CIN was induced by administration of 7 ml/kg diatrizoate. The experiment was discontinued on the ninth day. Blood was collected for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine measurement. Rat kidney tissues were removed for histopathological evaluation and the investigation of caspases 1 and 3, iNOS, eNOS, TUNEL and calpain 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in BUN, creatinine, renal histopathological injury, TUNEL, caspases 1, 3, calpain 1, iNOS and eNOS was observed in the CM group compared to the control group. There was amelioration in all these parameters in the CM+GSPE group, while there was no significant amelioration in BUN, creatinine and renal histopathological injury in the CM+NAC group. In addition, calpain 1 staining and creatinine were significantly lower in the CM+GSPE group compared to the CM+NAC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed, for the first time in the literature, that GSPE has a greater renoprotective effect compared with NAC and that this effective protection may be related to decrease in calpain 1 levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey. Electronic address: sulusoy2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sukru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulsum
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevdegül
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mungan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asım
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orem
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yulug
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alkanat
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Karadeniz Technical University, School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fulya Balaban
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Yucesan
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism*; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000633:toxicity*; D056604:Grape Seed Extract / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D056604:Grape Seed Extract; C511402:Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D002154:Calpain; D020170:Caspase 1; C112682:Capn1 protein, mouse; D000111:Acetylcysteine
keywords: Calpains; Caspases; Contrast-induced nephropathy; GSPE; Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract; N acetyl cysteine; NAC