Preclinical efficacy of Dexmedetomidine on spinal cord injury provoked oxidative renal damage

Figures & data

Figure 1. Effect of Dex on serum renal markers in SCI-induced renal injury. (A) BUN (mg/dL) and (B) creatinine (mg/dL). Values are mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) sham and SCI; (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Figure 2. Effect of DEX on SCI-induced changes in LPO and protein oxidation markers in kidney tissues of rats. (A) MDA (nmol/g tissue) and (B) protein carbonyl content (nmol/mg protein). Values are mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) sham and SCI; (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Figure 3. Effect of SCI and Dex on MPO level in kidney homogenate. The MPO was expressed as U/g of tissue. Values are mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between (a) sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Figure 4. Effect of SCI and Dex on non-enzymic antioxidant level in kidney tissue. The GSH level was expressed µg/mg of tissue. Values are mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between (a) sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Table 1. Effect of SCI and Dex on renal enzymic antioxidant levels.

Groups	SOD (U/mg of protein)	CAT (U/mg of protein)	GPx (nmol/min/mg protein)	GST (nmol/min/mg protein)
Sham	19.56 ± 0.72	12.63 ± 1.21	3.51 ± 0.19	18.25 ± 1.01
SCI	7.66 ± 0.31^a*	7.12 ± 0.82^a*	2.05 ± 0.11^a*	10.25 ± 0.58^a*
Dex (50 mcg/kg)	15.91 ± 0.78	12.14 ± 0.96	2.78 ± 0.09	18.32 ± 1.05
SCI + Dex (50 mcg/kg)	12.27 ± 0.66^b*	10.67 ± 0.65^b*	2.62 ± 0.09^b*	15.65 ± 0.94^b*

Values are expressed as mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) Sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05). Units – SOD: U/mg protein, one unit is equal to the amount of enzyme that inhibits auto-oxidation of epinephrine. CAT: U mg/protein, nmol H₂O₂ consumed min⁻¹mg⁻¹ protein. GPx: nmol of GSH oxidized/min/mg of protein. GST: nmol of GSH–CDNB conjugate formed/min/mg of protein.

Figure 5. Levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum. (A) TNF-α (pg/mL) and (B) IL-6 (pg/mL). Values are mean ± SD for 10 rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) Sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Figure 6. Western blot analysis of inflammatory cytokines in renal tissues. (A) TNF- α and IL-6 protein expression; (B) relative fold change of TNF-α and IL-6. β-Actin served as an internal control. Values are mean ± SD for five rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) Sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Figure 7. Western blot analysis of apoptotic marker in renal tissues. (A) Cleaved caspase 3 protein and (B) relative fold change of cleaved caspase 3. β-Actin served as an internal control. Values are mean ± SD for five rats in each group. Comparisons are made between: (a) Sham and SCI and (b) SCI and SCI + Dex. *Statistically significant (p < 0.05).