The protective effects of dexmedetomidine on the liver and kidney injury in heat stroke rats

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-1949.2014.12.021

Abstract：Objective To explore whether dexmedetomidine could attenuate heat -induced liver and kidney injury in rats and the possible mechanism .Methods Forty eight male anesthetized SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=16):control group(group C), heat stroke model group ( group HS ) and dexmedetomidine group ( group Dex ) .The model and dexmedetomidine groups were subjected to heat stress (40.0 ±0.5)℃ to induce heat stroke.A bolus injection of normal saline or dexmedetomidine(25 μg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally immediately after the onset of heat stroke.Blood sampling was done 1 h(T1) and 6 h(T6) after injection, serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), creatinine (Cr), urea nitrogen(BUN), interleukin-1β( IL -1β) , interleukin -6 ( IL -6 ) and tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF -α) were measured.Results Compared with group C, the levels of liver and kidney injury markers (ALT, AST, BUN, Cr) and inflammatory cytokines ( IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in serum were increased in group HS (P<0.05);compared with group HS, the concentrations of ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-αwere decreased in group Dex (P<0.05).Conclusion Systemic delivery of dexmedetomidine at the time point of onset of heat stroke may ameliorate the liver and kidney injury by regulating inflammation and decreasing the inflammatory cytokines .