Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
5/6th Nephrectomy in Combination with High Salt Diet and Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition to Induce Chronic Kidney Disease in the Lewis Rat
Published on: July 3, 2013
Cardioprotective effect of renalase in 5/6 nephrectomized rats
1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. mnhbaraka@yahoo.com
Insights
Renalase administration may treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic kidney disease patients. This study shows renalase improved cardiac function and blood pressure in rats with reduced kidney function.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Reduced renalase levels in CKD may increase CVD risk by elevating plasma catecholamines.
- Renalase is a potential therapeutic target for managing CVD in CKD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if renalase administration can mitigate CVD severity in a rat model of CKD.
- To assess the therapeutic potential of renalase in improving cardiac function and reducing blood pressure.
Main Methods:
- A 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) rat model was used to simulate CKD.
- Rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, 5/6 Nx with placebo, and 5/6 Nx with renalase treatment.
- Parameters assessed included mean arterial pressure, cardiac function markers, and plasma creatinine/BUN.
Main Results:
- 5/6 Nx rats showed increased blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, and noradrenaline levels.
- Renalase treatment significantly improved cardiac function and reduced blood pressure in Nx rats.
- Plasma creatinine and BUN levels were not significantly altered by renalase treatment.
Conclusions:
- Renalase shows promise as a therapeutic agent for cardiovascular complications in CKD.
- Renalase may modulate cardiac function and systemic blood pressure in renalase-deficient states.
- Further research is warranted to explore renalase's efficacy and safety in CKD patients.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal disease. It has been recently postulated that the loss or reduced levels of renalase in patients with chronic renal disease are, at least in part, responsible for elevated plasma catecholamine levels, which leads to increased CVD. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether renalase administration might serve as a therapeutic drug, decreasing the severity of CVD in 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) rats. The current study was conducted on 30 male Wistar albino rats divided into the following groups: group I: sham-operated rats that received phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) subcutaneously (s.c.) for 4 weeks following sham operation, group II: rats in which 5/6 Nx was done and then the rats received PBS daily s.c. for 4 weeks following 5/6 Nx, and group III: rats in which 5/6 Nx was done and then the rats received recombinant renalase daily s.c. for 4 weeks following 5/6 Nx. 5/6 nephrectomy resulted in a significant increase in mean arterial pressure, left ventricular (LV)/body weight ratio, LV hydroxyproline concentration, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and noradrenaline (NA) levels as well as significant decrease in LV papillary muscle developed tension in group II compared with the sham-operated group I. Administration of renalase to group III resulted in significant amelioration of all studied parameters with the exception of plasma creatinine and BUN which were not significantly different from nontreated group II. The results of the current study identify renalase as a new therapeutic modality that might modulate cardiac function and systemic blood pressure in renalase-deficient states like chronic renal disease.
