title: N-Acetylcysteine and High-Dose Atorvastatin Reduce Oxidative Stress in an Ischemia-Reperfusion Model in the Rat Kidney.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and high-dose atorvastatin (ATOR) in reducing oxidative stress in a rat kidney model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty female rats underwent clamping of the left renal artery for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion. The effects of pre-ischemic administration of NAC and/or ATOR were evaluated within 4 groups: a) control (no NAC, no ATOR); b) NAC (intraperitoneal NAC administration); c) ATOR (oral ATOR administration); and d) NAC+ATOR (both drugs). Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Post-ischemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated by means of renal histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NAC, ATOR, and NAC+ATOR in rats showed lower MPO (P < .05) and higher GPx activity (P < .05) versus control; SOD activity was lower in NAC versus ATOR (P < .05). No difference among groups was found at histology. However, a lower rate of tubular ischemic lesions was evident in NAC+ATOR versus control (P = .07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atorvastatin pretreatment provides protection against oxidative stress in a rat kidney model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, reinforcing the evidence of a beneficial effect of statins beyond their cholesterol-lowering properties.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Vittorio Emanuele-Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: giacomare55@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cusumano
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liuzzo
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ciavarella
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Severino
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Copponi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, "Cannizzaro Hospital", Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giubilato
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stigliano
authors.affiliation: Experimental Animal Care, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Caristo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crea
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Citterio
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000111:Acetylcysteine