L-Citrulline Protects Against Glycerol-Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats

Figures & data

Figure 1.  Effects dexamethasone (Dex) of L-Citrulline (L-Cit) on levels of BUN in rats plasma. Data are the means ± SEM for six animals. Note: *p < 0.01 as compared to the control, **p < 0.05 as compared to the glycerol group, ***p < 0.01 as compared to the glycerol group.

Figure 2.  Effects dexamethasone (Dex) of L-Citrulline (L-Cit) on levels of Cr in rats plasma. Data are the means ± SEM for six animals.Note: *p < 0.01 as compared to the control, **p < 0.01 as compared to the glycerol group.

Table 1.  Effect of L-citrulline on SOD and GSH and MDA levels in the kidney tissue of rats administered with glycerol.

Group	MDA (nmol TBA/mg)	SOD (unit/mg)	GSH (mg/g)
Control	0.320 ± 0.023	124.990 ± 9.243	26.804 ± 2.743
Glycerol group	0.760 ± 0.008*	30.760 ± 2.147**	7.909 ± 0.832**
L-Cit 300 mg/kg	0.641 ± 0.008***	59.610 ± 1.125****	12.256 ± 0.506***
L-Cit 600 mg/kg	0.548 ± 0.012***	73.667 ± 1.206****	16.236 ± 0.409****
L-Cit 900 mg/kg	0.432 ± 0.017***	90.758 ± 2.249****	20.738 ± 0.706****
Dexamethasone	0.459 ± 0.013***	90.063 ± 1.588****	21.229 ± 0.908****

Notes: Data shown are the means ± SEM for six rats.

*p < 0.05 as compared to the control, **p < 0.01 as compared to the control, ***p < 0.05 as compared to the glycerol group, ****p < 0.01 as compared to the glycerol group.

Table 2.  Effect of L-citrulline on NOS activity in the kidney tissue of rats administered with glycerol.

Group	TNOS (nmol/min/g)	eNOS (nmol/min/g)	iNOS (nmol/min/g)
Control	2.178 ± 0.187	1.751 ± 0.178	0.428 ± 0.027
Glycerol group	5.12 ± 0.327**	0.909 ± 0.185	4.280 ± 0.208**
L-Cit 300 mg/kg	3.880 ± 0.460****	2.056 ± 0.353****	1.824 ± 0.215****
L-Cit 600 mg/kg	3.824 ± 0.201****	1.862 ± 0.288***	1.962 ± 0.133****
L-Cit 900 mg/kg	3.207 ± 0.231****	1.916 ± 0.315***	1.291 ± 0.142****
Dexamethasone	3.125 ± 0.213****	2.169 ± 0.209****	0.956 ± 0.076****

Notes: Data shown are the means ± SEM for six rats.

*p < 0.05 as compared to the control, **p < 0.01 as compared to the control, ***p < 0.05 as compared to the glycerol group, ****p < 0.01 as compared to the glycerol group.

Figure 3.  Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections of rat kidneys. (A) Normal kidney section. (B) Kidney section of a glycerol-treated rat showing severe tubular necrosis and cast formation. (C) Kidney section of a L-citrulline (900 mg/kg) + glycerol treated rat showing moderate necrosis and cast formation. (D) Kidney section of a dexamethasone + glycerol treated rat showing moderate necrosis and cast formation.

Figure 4.  Effects dexamethasone (Dex) of L-Citrulline (L-Cit) on levels of NO in rats kidney tissues. Data are the means ± SEM for six animals. Note: *p < 0.001 as compared to the control, **p < 0.001 as compared to the glycerol group.