Prazosin Protects the Liver Against Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common subsequent problem after many medical conditions. AKI is associated with distant organ dysfunction where systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play major roles. In this study, the effect of Prazosin, an alpha 1-Adrenergic receptor antagonist, was investigated on the liver injury induced by kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Male adult Wistar rats (n = 21) were divided into three groups: sham, kidney I/R, and kidney I/R pre-treated with Prazosin (1 mg/kg). Kidney I/R was induced by vascular clamping of the left kidney for 45 min to reduce the blood flow. Oxidative and antioxidant factors along with apoptotic (Bax, Bcl-2, caspase3), and inflammatory (NF-kappa beta, IL-1 beta, and IL-6) factors were measured in the liver at protein levels. Prazosin could reserve liver function (p < 0.01) and increase glutathione level (p < 0.05) after kidney I/R significantly. Malonil dialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, was diminished more significantly in Prazosin-treated rats compared to the kidney I/R group (p < 0.001). Inflammatory and apoptotic factors were diminished by Prazosin pre-treatment in the liver tissue (p < 0.05). Pre-administration of Prazosin could preserve liver function and decrease its inflammatory and apoptotic factors under kidney I/R conditions.