Effect of captopril on the aged rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of captopril (CAP) on acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in the aged rats. Methods 60 aged rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (A, n=20), ischemia -reperfusion (I/R) group (B, n=20), and CAP-group (C, n=20). CAP was fed by ig to the rats two weeks before renal ischemia-reperfusion in advance. After 1h renal ischemia, 1 h and 24 h renal ischemia-reperfusion, the content of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected in the homogenate of renal tissue. The kidney specimens were examined by using electron microscope. Results In group C and group B, the SOD activity in renal tissue reduced significantly and MDA level increased significantly, compared with group A. In group C, renal cortex MDA concentration after reperfusion was significantly decreased (P0.01), SOD activity increased significantly (P0.01), compared with group B. Under electron microscope, renal pathology was associated wih acute injury and necrosis was observed in group B, meanwhile, it was obviously alleviated in group C.Conclusions In ischemia-reperfusion injury the oxygen free radicals (OFR) can cause renal injury; CAP can decrease the level of MDA, increase the activation of SOD by inhibiting the generation of OFR, elevating the ability of anti-lipid peroxidation reaction.