The Effect of Gender on Brain Tissue Changes Induced by Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Adult Rats

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) is a common clinical injury that affects the function of other remote organs such as the brain by initiating a cascade of complex and wide-ranging inflammatory responses. RIR also follows a different course in men and women. Since there is little information on the effect of RIR on the brain as a sensitive organ in both males and females, the present research was performed to investigate the effect of gender on RIR-induced brain tissue alterations in adult rats.

In this study, 28 Wistar rats (14 female and 14 male rats) weighing 200 ± 20 g were divided into the following groups: 1- male sham (MS), 2- female sham (FS), 3- male ischemia (MI) with 3-hour reperfusion (ISC3hr), and 4- Female ischemia (FI) with 3-hour reperfusion (ISC3hr). Bilateral renal ischemia was induced for 45 minutes and blood samples were taken after reperfusion for the measurements of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrite levels. The left kidney was removed for evaluation of MDA and tissue nitrite levels. Right kidney and brain tissue underwent histological examination.

Serum BUN level increased in both genders. Serum nitrite level was significantly different between both genders, meaning that it was increased in the female rats as compared to male ones. Overall brain tissue damage was significantly increased in males compared to females.

RIR has an effect on the function and tissue of kidney and brain in both genders. Female rats are more susceptible to the nitric oxide system than the male ones. This study showed that male brain tissue was more susceptible to RIR. Therefore, gender is one of the important factors that should be considered in clinical treatments.