Macrophage infiltration and cellular proliferation in the non-ischemic kidney and heart following prolonged unilateral renal ischemia

Abstract

Background/Aims: Although ischemic renal failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, whether ischemic changes within a kidney might also have adverse effects on other organs has not been examined. Furthermore, given the protective effects of angiotensin II receptor (AT1) antagonism in renal ischemia, we considered whether a similar strategy might also modulate the response to acute renal insult. Methods: Unilateral renal artery ligation was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats, treated with or without the AT1 antagonist losartan (30 mg/kg/day). After 24 h of renal ischemia, changes in the contralateral kidney and heart were examined. Results: Contralateral non-ischemic kidneys disp..