Renoprotective effect of crocin following liver ischemia/ reperfusion injury in Wistar rats

Abstract

<strong><em>Objective(s)</em></strong>: The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effects of hepatic <em>‎</em>ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, biochemical factors, and <em>‎</em>histopathological changes in rat kidney, and to investigate the effect of crocin on IR-<em>‎</em>related changes.<br /> <strong><em>Materials and Methods: </em></strong>Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=8). They were <strong>‎</strong>sham-operated, IR, crocin pre-treatment, and crocin pretreatment+IR groups. Sham-operated <strong>‎</strong>and Crocin pre-treatment groups received normal saline (N/S, 2 ml/day) and crocin (200 mg/kg) <strong>‎</strong>for seven consecutive days intraperitoneally (IP), respectively, then rats underwent laparotomy, only. <strong>‎</strong>IR and crocin pretreatment+IR groups received N/S and crocin with the same dose, time, and route, <strong>‎</strong>respectively, then rats underwent partial (70%) ischemia for 45 min that was followed by reperfusion <strong>‎</strong>for 60 min. At the end of the experiment, kidney specimens were taken for histopathological and <strong>‎</strong>antioxidant evaluations and also blood samples were obtained for biochemical analysis.<br /> <strong><em>Results:</em></strong> The results of the present study showed that crocin pre-treatment significantly increased <strong>‎</strong>the activity of antioxidants, decreased the serum levels of liver enzymes and blood urea nitrogen <strong>‎</strong>following IR-induced hepatic injury. Crocin also ameliorated kidney´s histopathological <strong>‎</strong>disturbance beyond IR-induced hepatic injury.<br /> <strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> Crocin as an antioxidant agent protected renal insult following liver IR injury by <strong>‎</strong>increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing serum levels of liver enzymes, and <strong>‎</strong>improving histopathological changes.<strong>‎</strong>