Effect of ukrain on ischemia/reperfusion-induced kidney injury in rats

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of ukrain on an experimental kidney injury model induced by ischemia and reperfusion (IR) in rats. Material and methodsA total of 24 male Sprague–Dawley rats were equally and randomly separated into three groups as follows: group-1: controls (C; only laparotomy); group 2: renal ischemia–reperfusion (IR; occlusion of the renal artery for 30 min and 2 h of reperfusion); and group 3: ukrain treatment and IR applied group (U + IR; occlusion of the renal artery for 30 min and 2 h of reperfusion; ukrain was intraperitoneally administered 1 h before the IR process). ResultsSerum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were measured. The oxidative stress index was determined by calculating the TOS/TAS ratio. TAS serum levels significantly increased, and TOS serum levels also prominently decreased in U + IR group, when compared with the IR group (P < 0.001). Mean NGAL level was remarkably higher in IR group, when compared with the U + IR group (P < 0.001). Caspase-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level increased in IR and decreased in U + IR group (P < 0.001). Bcl-xL serum and mRNA expression levels increased in the U + IR group (P < 0.001). In addition, serum iNOS and mRNA expression levels increased in IR group and decreased in U + IR group (P < 0.001). ConclusionsData established from the present study suggest that ukrain may exhibit protective effect against IR-induced kidney injury and that antioxidant activity primarily modulates this effect.