Abstract

Lamiaa M. Shawky and Ahmed A. Morsi

Renal ischemic / reperfusion injury (IR) remains a major problem in clinical practice. Erythropoietin is evaluated as a nephroprotective agent. However, its nephroprotective effect when it is co-administered with estrogen is doubtful in females. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of erythropoietin and estrogen either alone or combined in renal (IR) ovariectomized rats. Sixty female rats were divided into six groups. Group I: control. Group II: Female rats exposed to IR. Group III: ovariectomized rats exposed to IR. Group IV: ovariectomized rats received estrogen then exposed to IR. Group V: ovariectomized rats received erythropoietin before IR. Group VI: ovariectomized rats received estrogen then received erythropoietin before IR. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured. Kidney specimens were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Group II and III showed degeneration of cells of the tubular lining cells with tubular dilatation. Electron microscopy showed marked ultrastructural changes in the renal tubules. Group IV, group V showed improvement in light and electron microscopic changes. Combined estrogen and erythropoietin (group VI) led to a significant decrease in erythropoietin protection in renal IR injury. Erythropoietin could protect against IR, however, minimal effect was obtained when combined with estrogen.