We investigated effects of alpha-tocopherol on lipid peroxidation and histological observations induced by oxygen free radicals generated during warm renal ischemia and reperfusion in 50 Guinea Pigs.
Twenty-three Guinea Pigs were divided to five groups. Group 1 (n:10) was healthy controls. Group 2 (n:10) had warm renal ischemia for 30 minutes. Group 3 (n:10) was tretad intraperitoneal^ by alpha-tocopherol (100 mgper day) for three days before warm renal ischemia. Group 4 (n:10) had reperfusion for 60 minutes after warm renal ischemia for 30 minutes. Group 5 (n:10) was treated intraperitoneally by alpha-tocopherol before warm renal ischemia and reperfusion.
In Group 4, level of plasma malondialdehyde (median value: 9.52 nmollmL), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was higher than those of Group 1, 2, 3 and 5 (6.67, 6.59, 6.56, 657 nmollmL, respectively; p<0.001 for all groups).
Histological observations showed necrosis of proximal and distal convoluted tubules following warm renal ischemia. This necrosis area expanded, and glomerulus injury started following reperfusion. The treatment of alpha-tocopherol did not affect to histological changes of renal ischemia, but it reduced reperfusion injury after renal ischemia.
Finally, it was shown that alpha-tocopherol reduced both lipid peroxidation and histologic injury in reperfusion following warm renal ischemia.