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

The current study aimed to explore whether dexmedetomidine could attenuate heat-induced liver and kidney injury in rats and the possible mechanism. Forty eight male anesthetized SD rats were randomly divided into following three groups (n=16): blank 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 +/- 0.5 degrees C) to induce heat stroke. A bolus injection of normal saline or dexmedetomidine (25 mu g/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally immediately after the onset of heat stroke. Blood samples were gained at 1 h (T1) and 6 h (T6) after injection, the serum concentrations of ALT, AST, Cr, BUN, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured. The serum concentrations of liver and kidney injury markers (ALT, AST, BUN, Cr) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha) in group HS were significantly higher than in group C in T1 and T6 (P<0.05). In addition, the concentrations of ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in group Dex were lower than in group HS in two time points (P<0.05). 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.