Figures & data
Figure 1. Impact of dexmedetomidine on kidney weight and related kidney injury markers in rats induced by cisplatin. An acute kidney injury model induced by cisplatin (CP) in rats was simulated by intraperitoneal injection of CP with dexmedetomidine (Dex) at different concentrations (10 and 25 μg/kg). A, Rat kidney weight (F = 31.40); B, kidney arterial resistive index (RI) of rats, RI = weight of both kidneys/body weight × 100% (F = 32.31). (C–F) Serum clinical markers of kidney injury in rats, including blood urea nitrogen (F = 143.4) (C), creatinine (Cr) (F = 107.9) (D), creatine kinase (CK) (F = 233.0) (E), and kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) (F = 254.5) (F). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 10). **p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ## p < 0.01 vs. CP group; & p < 0.01 vs. CP + Dex 10 μg/kg.
Figure 2. Effect of dexmedetomidine on the histopathology of kidney tissue in rats treated with cisplatin. Pathological changes in the kidney tissue of acute kidney injury rats were detected using hematoxylin and eosin staining. A, Representative pathology images of kidneys in the control (A), CP (B), CP + Dex 10 μg/kg (C), and CP + Dex 25 μg/kg groups (F = 65.67). ** p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ## p < 0.01 vs. CP group; & p < 0.01 vs. CP + Dex 10 μg/kg.
Figure 3. Impact of dexmedetomidine treatment on the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in kidney tissues of acute kidney injury rats induced by cisplatin. Levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the kidney tissues of rats were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A, IL-1β (F = 44.50); B, IL-18 (F = 125.2); C, IL-6 (F = 95.76); D, TNF-α (F = 31.36). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 10). ** p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ## p < 0.01 vs. CP group; & p < 0.01 vs. CP + Dex 10 μg/kg.
Figure 4. Influence of dexmedetomidine on the levels of pyroptosis-related proteins in kidney tissues of rats induced by cisplatin. A, Western blotting assessment of the expression levels of NLRP-3, caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and GSDMD-N proteins in the kidney tissues of rats. B, Gray value analysis of immunoreactive bands in each group. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 10) (Alpha = 0.05). ** p < 0.01 vs. Control group; ## p < 0.01 vs. CP group; & p < 0.01 vs. CP + Dex 10 μg/kg.
Data availability statement
Datasets used in this article are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.