Introduction

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major cause of renal failure and renal graft rejection (1,2). The purpose of this study is to determine that antioxidants vitamin C and E therapy provides protection against I/R injury in pig kidney during kidney transplantation.

Materials and methods

In control group (n=3), after the left kidney was removed, all arteries are perfused using hepa-saline (heparine 1000 IU + saline 500 ml) followed by autotransplantation. And then right nephrectomy performed. In treatment group (n=3), vitamin C (1,000 mg/head/day, IM) and vitamin E (100 IU/head/day, PO) combination were given for 2 days before operating. After the left kidney was removed, all arteries are perfused using hepa-saline including vitamin C 1,000 mg. After implantation of the renal autograft, right kidney was removed.

Results

The level of BUN increased to 81.0±5.57 mg/dl at day 1 the control group, and then increased gradually and was not normalized until 7 days after renal autotransplantation. While in the treatment group, the level of BUN went up to 53.50±16.23 mg/dl at day 1 and then slightly decreased. In the control group, serum creatinine levels increased to 6.80±2.22 mg/dl after 1 day of renal autotransplantation and then decreased slightly and were not normalized until 7 days of operation. The serum creatinine level in the treatment group increased 4.00±0.28 mg/dl after 1 day of renal autotransplantation and then slightly decreased to 3.05±0.07 mg/dl by 7 days of operation.

Conclusion

It was considered that antioxidants vitamin C and E therapy may have roles on the attenuation of I/R injury and recovery of renal function in the renal transplantation model in growing pigs.

References

1.  Casanova D et al. 2002. Transplant Proc 34: 45-46.

2.  Sarin PK et al. 2003. Transplant Proc 35: 35-36.