Amino acids’ protective effects on experimental acute renal failure

Abstract

This study was carried out to elucidate the nephroprotective effects from a mixture of 8 L-amino acids and the possible mechanism of protection by this amino acid mixture. Acute renal failure model was induced by an intravenous administration of 10 mg/kg cisplatin to male Sprague-Dawley rats. A mixture of 8 L-amino acids or 0.9% saline was infused at a rate of 2 ml/h for 3 h, starting with a 2 ml bolus injection before cisplatin administration. Amino acids showed no acute effect on renal morphology. The infusion of a mixture of 8 L-amino acids increased GFR by 85% in control rats. The abnormalities of urine sodium and potassium excretion caused by cisplatin were markedly attenuated by the administration of the amino acid mixture. With the infusion of this amino acid mixture, cisplatin-induced abnormal state 4 respiration returned to control levels and the depressed state 3 respiration, respiratory control ratio and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone-uncoupled respiration were ameliorated remarkably. A mixture of 8 L-amino acids showed marked nephroprotection against cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats and might function through augmentation of the cisplatin-injured renal mitochondrial electron transport-oxidative phosphorylation sequence, probably via stabilizing the membrane (including inner mitochondrial membrane) protein tertiary structure. In addition, this amino acid mixture remarkably increased GFR and decreased urine sodium excretion in rats.