Protective effect of L-carnitine and gallic acid in rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) often occurs as a result of ischemia-reperfusion. AKI is a major renal disease associated with high mortality rate. We investigated the renal protective effects of gallic acid and L-carnitine on the blood factors in rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion.
In this experimental study, forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: controls, ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), ischemia-reperfusioncarnitine (I/R, 500mg/kg), and ischemia/reperfusion gallic acid (I/R, 100mg/kg). Animals of the experimental groups were subjected to unilateral nephrectomy and received Gallic acid and L-carnitine for 14 days. Then, ischemia was induced by clamping the renal pedicle for 45 minutes. 72 h later, they were sacrificed, and the blood level of BUN, uric acid and creatinine were analyzed.
The results showed a significant increase in BUN and creatinine of I/R group compared to the controls. Also, BUN and creatinine were significantly decreased in I/R and I/R groups in comparison with I/R group. On other hand, blood level of uric acid was decreased in I/R group compared to I/R group.
The results indicated that ischemia/reperfusion induced acute renal injury in rat model, and pretreatment with L-carnitine and gallic acid can prevent the kidney tissue damage from renal ischemia. Keywords: Nephrectomy, Ischemia/Reperfusion, L-carnitine, Gallic acid, Rat.