The protective effects of metyrosine, lacidipine, clonidine, and moxonidine on kidney damage induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats

To investigate the effects of metyrosine, lacidipine, clonidine, and moxonidine on the renal damage in rats with unilateral ureteral ligation by examining the histological evidence of parenchymal damage and tubular dilatation, as well as biochemical changes indicating cell membrane damage and DNA oxidation.

Thirty-six albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six equal groups: a healthy (intact) group, a unilateral ureteral ligation (control) group, and four drug treatment groups given metyrosine (50 mg/kg), lacidipine (2 mg/kg), clonidine (0.075 mg/kg), or moxonidine (0.2 mg/kg), respectively, for 10 days. The latter five groups underwent ligation of the left ureter. Ten days after the operation, we removed both kidneys from each rat in the control and drug treatment groups for renal pathological and biochemical [malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine (8-OH-Gua)] examinations. Spectrophotometric assays were used to detect the malondialdehyde and total glutathione levels of the renal tissue. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine levels.

When the drug treatment groups were compared with the control group, the drug treatment groups’ total glutathione level was higher and their malondialdehyde level was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05), especially in the clonidine group (P < 0.0001). The 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanine levels of the drug treatment groups, except the lacidipine group, were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the contralateral kidneys of the treatment groups and control group, according to the biochemical results. As revealed via light microscopy, clonidine and moxonidine treatment significantly reduced the tubular and glomerular damage, as well as the tubular dilation. The interstitial inflammation of the kidneys in the lacidipine group was higher than that of the other treatment groups. However, the apoptotic cell count was at a high level in both the lacidipine and metyrosine groups. The increase in the collagen content was most pronounced in the lacidipine and metyrosine groups. An examination of the contralateral kidneys showed no marked pathological findings.

The use of a direct or indirect α2-adrenergic receptor agonist for the temporary treatment of unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced renal damage may be important for preventing renal structural injury. A more advanced study is necessary to determine the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of these drugs with regard to renal damage in ureteral obstruction.