L-carnitine improves oxidative stress and suppressed energy metabolism but not renal dysfunction following release of acute unilateral ureteral obstruction in rat.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

We recently showed that L-carnitine reduced oxidative stress and suppressed energy metabolism, while α-tocopherol only prevented redox imbalance, in the obstructed kidney of rats subjected to 24-hr of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of both compounds on disturbed renal hemodynamics, solutes-excretion, and urine-concentrating ability as well as renal oxidative stress and suppressed metabolism at early hours following release of 24-hr UUO.

METHODS

UUO was induced in anaesthetized rats that received L-carnitine, α-tocopherol or their vehicles in four different groups. Each rat was re-anaesthetized, prepared for renal functional measurements, and its ureteral obstruction was released at 24-hr. Then, urines of both kidneys were separately collected during 30-90 min of post-release, with taking blood samples at beginning and end of it. Finally, both kidneys were removed and preserved at -80°C for future measuring their levels of ATP and ADP as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). There were also sham and control groups.

RESULTS

Post-obstructed kidney (POK) of vehicle-treated groups compared to equivalent kidney of sham group had lower ATP, ATP/ADP, FRAP, creatinine clearance, absolute Na(+)- and K(+)-excretion, and effective free-water reabsorption, but higher MDA and ADP. L-carnitine could improve oxidative stress and suppressed energy metabolism and α-tocopherol normalized redox state, but both compounds did not have any effects on altered functional variables of the POK.

CONCLUSION

Oxidative stress and suppressed energy metabolism may not be involved in the development of renal dysfunction during acute ureteral obstruction.