Investigation of the nephroprotective effect of dexmedetomidine on colistin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

There are very few studies in the literature focusing on whether dexmedetomidine exerts a protective effect on colistin nephrotoxicity. Our study aims to investigate the nephroprotective effect of dexmedetomidine in an experimental model of nephrotoxicity in rats.

The control group was administered saline (SF) intraperitoneally twice a day. The colistin group received an intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 10 mg/kg of colistin twice a day. The DX10 group received 10 mg/kg of colistin 20 minutes after the intraperitoneal injection of 10 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine. The DX20 group received 10 mg/kg of colistin 20 minutes after the intraperitoneal injection of 20 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine. Applications were continued for 7 days, twice a day. All rats were sacrificed on the 8th day after blood and kidney tissue samples were taken. BUN, Creatine, KIM-1 and Endothelin-1 were studied in blood samples.

There was a significant difference in the median values of Urea, BUN and Creatine between the groups (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference in the median values of KIM-1 and Endothelin-1 between the groups (p=0.009, p=0.001, respectively). A significant difference was observed between the histopathological scores of the groups (p<0.001).

Dexmedetomidine significantly decreased the elevated levels of BUN, Creatinine, KIM-1, and Endothelin-1 induced by colistin. Dexmedetomidine, at both doses, histopathologically prevented apoptosis and reduced the number of necrotic cells in the kidneys. Dexmedetomidine provides renoprotective effects, therefore it is a valuable sedation agent for clinicians working in intensive care units (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 19). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: rat, colistin, nephrotoxicity, dexmedetomidine.