Abstract

Kidneys have been shown to be the main target for toxins. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a bacterial endotoxin which can involve in pathogenesis of endotoxemia-caused kidney dysfunction. Excessive production of free radicals such as nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines have been reported to contribute in kidney dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibition against LPS-induced kidney dysfunction in rats. Male rats were assigned into five groups. Control animals were injected saline; LPS group received 1 mg/kg of LPS for five weeks; LPS-AG50, LPS-AG100, and LPS-AG150 groups received AG (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively) 30 min before LPS. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. LPS injection enhanced the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine compared with the control group. Pretreatment with AG resulted in a significant reduction in BUN and creatinine in LPS-AG100 and LPS-AG 150 groups with respect to the LPS group. LPS administration led to a significant increase in interleukin (IL)-6, malondialdehyde (MDA), and NO metabolites as well as a significant decrease in the content of total thiol groups and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Pretreatment with AG reduced the level of IL-6, MDA, and NO metabolites and enhanced the content of total thiol groups and SOD and CAT activity in LPS-AG groups compared to the LPS group. The results of the present study show that inhibition of iNOS has a protective effect against kidney dysfunction caused by LPS. © 2020 Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation.