Alanine-glutamine dipeptide pretreatment protects rat renal function from small intestine ischemia-reperfusion injury.

AIM

Oxidative injury can cause renal function impairment and failure. Glutathione, a free radical scavenger, plays in the kidney a central role in oxidant-related events. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential beneficial effect of glutamine, a precursor of glutathione in the form of alanine-glutamine dipeptide (AGD) on small intestine ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R)-induced oxidant renal damage in rats.

METHODS

Wistar rats were subjected to intestinal I/R for 30 min, induced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, followed by 60 min reperfusion. AGD pretreatment was given 48 and 24 hours before I/R. At the end of the experimental procedure the left kidney was excised and a thin tissue slice was obtained for electron microscopy study. Kidney biopsies were obtained for malonyl dialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and glutathione assays.

RESULTS

Intestinal I/R caused significant oxidative injury in rat renal parenchyma consisted of severe alterations observed in subcellular renal structures associated with a significant increase in renal malonyl dialdehyde levels and a significant decrease in renal glutathione levels. Changes regarding subcellular renal structures were ameliorated in AGD pre-treated animals in which renal glutathione levels did not decreased significantly.

CONCLUSION

Glutamine pretreatment in the form of AGD can prevent small bowel I/R-induced oxidant renal damage in rats.