Delayed Reperfusion of the Renal Outer Medulla Attenuates Ischemia Reperfusion-Induced Vascular Congestion

Vascular congestion, or red blood cell (RBC) trapping, of the renal outer medulla (OM) is a common finding in acute tubular necrosis caused by ischemia reperfusion (IR). Work from our laboratory suggests that vascular congestion originates in the renal venous vasculature of the cortex and OM during the ischemic phase. Following reperfusion, RBCs then fill the OM plexus capillaries as the venous drainage vessels of this region remain blocked. We have also previously reported that pretreatment with low dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) attenuates IR-induced vascular congestion, however the mechanisms remain unknown. In the current study, we hypothesized that pretreatment with LPS prevents vascular congestion by delayed reperfusion of blood to the OM following ischemia. To test this hypothesis, WKY rats (male, 12 weeks) were pretreated (i.p) with 1mg/kg LPS (n=6) or saline control (n=7) once daily for 3 days. Rats were then anesthetized, and Transonic Laser Doppler probes were inserted in the renal cortex and OM. Doppler flux, as a determinate of regional kidney blood flow was then measured over 10 minutes of baseline, 45 minutes of renal artery clamping and 30 minutes of reperfusion. We found no differences in baseline blood flow of the cortex (pTREATMENT =0.0543) or OM (pTREATMENT =0.5085) between rats pretreated with low dose LPS or saline control. Following removal of the renal artery clamp, the return of blood flow to the cortex was gradual over the first several minutes of reperfusion (pTIME <0.0001), reaching a plateau following 10 minutes of reperfusion in both treatment groups (pINTERACTION =0.9999) (Fig. A). The reperfusion of blood to the OM, however, rapidly returned to baseline levels within 1 minute of reperfusion in control animals (1 min: 0 to 0.43AU) (Fig. B). In contrast, OM blood flow returned slowly in LPS treated rats (1 min: 0 to -0.08AU) and did not return to baseline levels during the 30-minute reperfusion period (pINTERACTION =0.0127) (Fig. B). These data indicate that LPS pretreatment, paradoxically, delayed early reperfusion of the renal OM via a regional vasoconstriction response. We speculate that delayed reperfusion of the OM attenuates medullary plexus congestion by allowing time for the RBCs in the shared venous circulation to clear. These findings support the hypothesis that reperfusion of the renal outer medullary plexus before cortical perfusion is restored, is responsible for the development of prolonged vascular congestion. New therapeutics focused on renal hemodynamics to prevent congestion after ischemia may prevent much of the injury associated with acute kidney injury. © FASEB.