Effect of dexmedetomidine on rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and the expression of tight junction protein in kidney.

To explore the protective effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and the influence of Dex on the expression of tight junction protein in kidney. Grouped 40 SPF male rats into 4 groups, sham operation group (group S), ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R), pretreatment with Dex group (group Pre/Dex), post-treatment with Dex group (group Post/Dex), randomly, 10 rats each group. Rats in group S were anaesthetized and set up with removal of right kidney; rats in group I/R were set up with removal of right kidney and left renal artery clamping for 45 min followed by 60 min reperfusion; rats in group Pre/Dex were intravenous injected with Dex (1 μg/kg) for 30 min after indwelling catheter via femoral vein puncture; rats in group Post/Dex were intravenous injected with Dex (1 μg/kg) for 30 min after left renal reperfusion. The kidneys in each group were made out pathologic slices after 6 h I/R, stained with HE; blood samples were taken with separation plasma, creatinine (Scr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; IL-1β and TNF-α were detected by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); the expression level of tight junction protein ZO-1 and protein occludin in kidney were detected by Western-blot. The results of HE staining showed that, comparing to group S, the tissue of kidney in group I/R were damaged heavily with tubules dilatation and inflammation obviously, while lightened in group Pre/Dex and group Post/Dex. The results of detection of renal function and inflammatory factors showed that, comparing to group S, Scr, BUN, IL-1β and TNF-α were all enhanced in group I/R, group Pre/Dex and group Post/Dex, significantly (P < 0.05), while the inflammatory factors in group Pre/Dex and group Post/Dex were lower than in group I/R, significantly (P < 0.05). The results of Western-blot showed that the expression of protein ZO-1 and occludin in group Pre/Dex and group Post/Dex were higher than in group I/R, significantly (P < 0.05). Dex could reduce renal dysfunction induced by I/R, inhibit inflammatory response, up-regulate the expression of protein ZO-1 and occludin and protect renal.