Beta Carotene Modulates Nitric Oxide Production in the Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rat

Renal ischemia and subsequent reperfusion injury is a major cause of acute renal failure and transplant rejection. Nitric oxide and its metabolites have important role in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Beta carotene as an antioxidant effectively scavenges toxic metabolites of nitric oxide. Our previous study has shown that beta carotene pretreatment protects kidney against ischemia/reperfusion injury.
In this experimental study we investigated whether effect of beta carotene is causally linked with nitric oxide signal transduction.
In this experimental study, male adult Wistar rats (250 - 300 g) were exposed to 45 minutes of renal ischemia followed by 4 hours of reperfusion. Beta carotene (10, 30 and 100 mg kg-1) or vehicle was administered for 5 days prior to ischemia. Nitrite and nitrate were measured in the urine sample. Blood Flow and blood pressure were monitored during I/R period.
I/R decreased (P Since beta carotene administration improved renal blood flow and reduced the injury, it seems that beta carotene exerts some of its protective effects, probably by modulating of nitric oxide system.