Beneficial effect of alpha-tocopherol in renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

We evaluated the effects of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) on the products of lipid peroxidation and serum creatinine levels in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion. The animals were submitted to sham operation or renal ischemia-reperfusion, and they were pretreated with alpha-tocopherol or the vehicle saline. In four groups, we analyzed the lipid peroxidation products by measuring malondialdehyde and chemiluminescence levels. In the other three groups, we studied the serum creatinine levels after the procedures. In our study, the pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol reduced significantly the lipid peroxidation of renal cells and renal dysfunction induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats.