Background: The effect of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury on kidney has been under investigation for many years. But the changes in liver function and oxidative stress status in renal I/R injury is not well known. Recent studies suggest a crosstalk between liver and kidneys. The aim of the present study was to assess liver changes after induction of various degrees of renal I/R injury.
Methods: This is an experimental study conducted on 20 male rats that were obtained from animal house of Physiology Department. Twenty male rats were subjected to either sham operation or ischemia (30, 45 and 60 min) followed by 60 min reperfusion periods. Blood samples were drawn post-operatively and plasma creatinine, BUN, ALT and AST were measured. Hepatic glutathione (GSH) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) levels and the concentration of IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha were evaluated.
Results: Both 45 and 60 min ischemia followed by 1h reperfusion periods resulted in significant increases in plasma creatinine (11.1±1.7mg/dl and 1.24±0.07mg/dl vs 0.55±0.15mg/dl, p<0.05) and BUN (34±3.85mg/dl and 35.0±2.81mg/dl vs 23.75±1.1mg/dl, p<0.05). These rats showed a significant decrease in liver GSH as well as significant increase in TNF-a & IL-10 concentrations.
Conclusion: Renal ischemia causes changes in liver function and oxidative stress status. A minimum of 45 min ischemia is needed to study the effects of renal injury on liver as a remote affected organ.