Study of the effect of superoxide dismutase on acute renal failure in dogs

Warm ischaemia was provoked by occlusion of the left renal artery in dogs narcotized with Nembutal and it was studied whether a small (0.5 mg/kg body weight /n = 6/) or a large dose (5 mg/kg body weight /n = 7/) of superoxide dismutase (SOD) improves renal function during 90 min reperfusion, compared to the control group (n = 6). In the first period after release of occlusion (min 0-15) the GFR and cPAH values reached 10-20% of those in the contra lateral kidney with normal circulation. The GFR and cPAH values as well as urine flow, sodium and potassium excretion were not different in the three groups. Renal function significantly improved in all groups during reperfusion. At the early stage of reperfusion the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration exceeded that before occlusion. Such an increase could not be seen when superoxide dismutase (SOD) treatment was applied. Our results show that SOD treatment does not improve renal function at the early stage of acuterly stage of acute renal failure of ischaemic origin.