Evaluating the Effect of L-Arginine in Renal Ischemia\Reperfusion-Induced Acute Renal Injury in Male Rats: Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Pathway

Abstract

Ischemia\reperfusion injury (IRI) is described as a reduction in blood flow followed by the restoration of perfusion and reoxygenation to the kidney. This study aims to examine the renal protective effects of L-Arginine in a rat model of renal ischemia\reperfusion by modulating the oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cascade. The animals were divided equally into three groups. The sham group was subjected to surgical settings without the induction of ischemia\reperfusion injury. The control group was subjected to a 30-minute ischemia by occluding the renal pedicles, followed by blood restoration for 2 hours. In the L-Arginine-treated group, rats received 200 mg/kg IP of L-Arginine 30 minutes before occluding the renal pedicles, then subjected to 30 minutes of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Blood samples were collected to examine the levels of serum urea and creatinine. Renal tissue was used to measure the levels of F2-isoprostane, Caspase-3, and TNF-α in tissue. Histopathological analyses were performed to detect the tubular injury. The present study shows that pretreatment with L-Arginine improves kidney function through its effects on oxidative stress, apoptotic markers, and inflammatory markers.