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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
A Small Animal Model of Ex Vivo Normothermic Liver Perfusion
Published on: June 27, 2018
N-Acetylcysteine and High-Dose Atorvastatin Reduce Oxidative Stress in an Ischemia-Reperfusion Model in the Rat
G Cusumano1, J Romagnoli2, G Liuzzo3
1Renal Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Catholic University, Rome, Italy; Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Vittorio Emanuele-Policlinico Hospital, Catania, Italy.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and high-dose atorvastatin (ATOR) in reducing oxidative stress in a rat kidney model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Methods:
Forty female rats underwent clamping of the left renal artery for 30 minutes, followed by reperfusion. The effects of pre-ischemic administration of NAC and/or ATOR were evaluated within 4 groups: a) control (no NAC, no ATOR); b) NAC (intraperitoneal NAC administration); c) ATOR (oral ATOR administration); and d) NAC+ATOR (both drugs). Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Post-ischemia-reperfusion injury was evaluated by means of renal histology.
Results:
NAC, ATOR, and NAC+ATOR in rats showed lower MPO (P < .05) and higher GPx activity (P < .05) versus control; SOD activity was lower in NAC versus ATOR (P < .05). No difference among groups was found at histology. However, a lower rate of tubular ischemic lesions was evident in NAC+ATOR versus control (P = .07).
Conclusions:
Atorvastatin pretreatment provides protection against oxidative stress in a rat kidney model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, reinforcing the evidence of a beneficial effect of statins beyond their cholesterol-lowering properties.
