Possible role of garlic oil in ameliorating renal injury after liver ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Abstract

Acute liver failure induces renal injury by triggering inflammation and oxidative stress. The heme oxygenase system has a preventive role against reperfusion injury, while garlic oil has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the protective effects of garlic oil pretreatment on remote renal functions after liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and clarifying gene expressions of heme oxygenase 1 (HO1), autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) in renal tissues. Thirty six adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, garlic oil-supplemented, liver I/R, and garlic oil-pretreated liver I/R groups. Liver ischemia was performed in anesthetized rats for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 24 hours in metabolic cages. Serum samples were used for determination of liver enzymes and creatinine levels and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Urine samples were assayed for albumin, volume and creatinine concentration. Right liver lobe and right kidney specimens were used for determination of oxidative stress markers (colorimeterically). Also, gene expressions of HO1, Atg7 and PGC1α were investigated in right kidney specimens using real time PCR. Left kidney specimens were used for histopathological studies. Liver I/R group exhibited higher liver enzymes and creatinine levels in serum, prominent oxidative stress in both liver and renal tissues, albuminuria, lowered GFR deranged renal structure, and upregulated HO1, Atg7 and PGC1α gene expressions in renal tissues. Garlic oil-pretreated I/R group restricted such detrimental changes in renal functions and structure, though it caused further upregulation of the studied gene expression in renal tissue to alleviate the oxidative stress. It is concluded that garlic oil exerted reno-protective effected against remote organ damage induced by liver I/R injury, through enhancing HO1, Atg7 and PGC1α gene expressions.