Effect of ischemic preconditioning on function recovery of grafted kidney with severe ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

    ZHANG Bing, WANG He, YANG Xiaoª²Jian, QIN Weiª²Jun, WANG Fuª²Li, ZHANG Jian

    Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on grafted kidney function in a rat kidney transplantation model with severe ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by prolonged cold ischemia. METHODS: Syngeneic rats were divided into 2 groups. Prior to 42 h of cold storage in UW solution and kidney transplantation, one group (n=20) received IP (15 min warm ischemia/10 min reperfusion), whereas the other group (n=20) received no treatment. Early grafted kidney function, 1ª²week recipient survival rate and serum NO were assessed. RESULTS: The recipient survival rate was not significantly different between the 2 groups [60% (IP) vs 40% (nonª²IP); P>0.05]. IP led to a quicker recovery of renal function. On postoperative day 3 and 6, serum creatinine levels in IP group were significantly lower than those in the nonª²IP group (P<0.01). On postoperative day 1, serum NO levels in the IP group were significantly higher than those in the nonª²IP group (P<0.05). On postoperative day 3 and 6, serum NO levels in the IP group were significantly higher than those in the nonª²IP group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: One cycle of IP (15 min/10 min) increases the level of NO and accelerates the function recovery of grafted kidneys with severe ischemia/reperfusion injury. This simple treatment may improve the outcomes of renal transplantation with a prolonged cold stored kidney. ......