Protective effects of dexmedetomidine and remote ischemic preconditioning on renal ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) and dexmedetomidine as pharmacological conditioning in a rat renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury model. METHODS Total of 28 male Wistar Albino rats weighing 250 to 300 g were divided into 4 equal groups. Group I (Sham; n=7): Laparotomy and renal pedicle dissection were performed, and the rats were observed under anesthesia without any intervention. Group II (IR; n=7): Following laparotomy and 45 minutes of left renal pedicle occlusion, 4 hours of reperfusion was performed. Group III (IR+D; n=7): Following laparotomy and ischemia, dexmedetomidine was administrated intraperitoneally (100 µg/kg) at fifth minute of reperfusion. Group IV (RIPC+IR; n=7): Under anesthesia, 3 cycles of ischemic preconditioning were applied to the left hind leg, and after 5 minutes, renal IR was performed. All rats were sacrificed after the left kidney was processed for conventional histomorphology. RESULTS Total histomorphological renal injury score was significantly lower in the Sham group compared with the other groups (p<0.01). Total renal injury score of IR group was significantly higher than IR+D and RIPC+IR groups (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the total renal injury score between the dexmedetomidine and RIPC groups (p=0.89). CONCLUSION In the present study, it was demonstrated histomorphologically that both dexmedetomidine and RIPC decreased renal IR injury significantly. In addition, no significant difference was found between dexmedetomidine and RIPC groups.