Renal arterial infusion of tempol prevents medullary hypoperfusion, hypoxia, and acute kidney injury in ovine Gram-negative sepsis

Abstract

Aim: Renal medullary hypoperfusion and hypoxia precede acute kidney injury (AKI) in ovine sepsis. Oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, and impaired nitric oxide generation may contribute to such pathophysiology. We tested whether the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug, tempol, may modify these responses. Methods: Following unilateral nephrectomy, we inserted renal arterial catheters and laser-Doppler/oxygen-sensing probes in the renal cortex and medulla. Noanesthetized sheep were administered intravenous (IV) Escherichia coli and, at sepsis onset, IV tempol (IVT; 30 mg kg−1 h−1), renal arterial tempol (RAT; 3 mg kg−1 h−1), or vehicle. Results: Septic sheep receiving vehicle develo..