Renal protection by brief liver ischemia in rats

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the beneficial effect of brief ischemia and reperfusion, which was shown to have local effects on liver previously, on kidney as a remote organ in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: group I, sham; group II, renal ischemia for 45 min; and group III, 10 min of brief hepatic ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion after 45 min of renal ischemia. Biochemical determination, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and tissue thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and histopathologic findings were evaluated at 45 min and 24 hr of reperfusion. RESULTS: Although blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were similar at 45 min in groups II and III, these levels were lower in group III at 24 hr. Creatine clearance values were higher and fraction excretion of sodium values were lower in group II than in group III at 24 hr. Lactate dehydrogenase levels of groups III and II were similarly elevated at 45 min, whereas group III values decreased more rapidly than those of group II at 24 hr. At 45 min of reperfusion, TNF-alpha and tissue TBARS levels were found lower in group III than in group II. Histopathologic parameters including congestion and tubular vacuolization, tubular cell detachment, and necrosis were significantly reduced in group III as compared with results of group II 45 min after ischemia. All histopathologic parameters were defined as statistically better in group II at 24 hr. CONCLUSIONS: The beneficial effect of brief ischemia of liver on renal ischemia as a remote organ was confirmed by biochemical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural findings.