Hilal I. Sapmaz, Department of Anatomy, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey
Evren Köse, Department of Anatomy, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Zeynal M. Karaca, Department of Medical Genetics, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Turkey
Sema Akyürek, Chemistry Group, Tubitak National Metrology Institute (Tubitak Ume), Kocaeli, Turkey
Hakan Parlakpinar, Department of Medical Pharmacology, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Faik A. Deresoy, Department of Pathology, Keşan Public Hospital, Edirne, Turkey
Yusuf Türköz, Department of Medical Biochemistry, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey
Adile F. Dağli, Department of Medical Pathology, Bakırçay University, İzmir, Turkey
Objective: We aimed to investigate the changes in renal aquaporins (AQP) of rats in renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) against these changes. Methods: Forty-five adult rats were divided into six groups: control, sham (right nephrectomy), I/R (right nephrectomy + left kidney I/R), I/R+CAPE (I/R procedure after i.p. CAPE), sham + CAPE, and sham + dimethyl sulfoxide. Blood urea nitrogen, Cr, and K+ levels were measured in the sera. Tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histopathological examination. For immunohistochemical analysis, AQP2 was applied using the streptavidin/biotin/peroxidase system. AQP2 gene expression in kidney tissues was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: In the I/R, congestion, inflammation, and necrosis were found to increase compared to the control. In the I/R+CAPE, improvement was observed in necrosis compared to the I/R. There was a decrease in AQP2 expression in the I/R. In PCR, no significant difference was observed in AQP2 gene expression between the I/R and control and between the I/R+CAPE and I/R. Conclusion: Renal I/R inhibits the production of AQP2 in the kidney and causes histological and biochemical damage. CAPE administration before I/R has a protective effect on the kidney.
Keywords: Kidney. Caffeic acid. Antioxidant. Renal ischemia. Phytochemical. Aquaporin-2.