Investigation of the effects of myrtenal in rats with experimental renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Aim: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a heterogeneous syndrome that causes a wide range of functional changes in the kidneys, leading to high mortality in intensive care units and vascular surgical operations. Investigations have shown that Myrtenal (Myrt) is known to have positive effects on various organ damages. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Myrt on renal I/R injury biochemically and histologically. Material and method: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=10) were used in the study. The sham group (Group 1) clamping wasn't performed., while Group 2 was subjected to 45 minutes of ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion. In groups 3 and 4, Myrt was administered intraperitoneally at two different doses (40-80 mg/kg) for 9 days, followed by 45 minutes of ischemia and 24 hours of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment, the animals were decapitated and blood and kidney tissues were collected for histological and biochemical analyses. The study examined kidney damage markers, including KIM-1, and NGAL, as well as inflammation markers IL-1β and TNF-α levels using the ELISA method. Cell damage levels and caspase-3 reactivity were examined histologically. Additionally, oxidative stress parameters, including MDA, SOD, CAT, and GSH levels, were examined using biochemical methods. Results: Serum samples from the I/R group showed a significant increase in BUN and creatine levels compared to the sham group. This increase was significantly decreased by Myrt administration (p<0.05). Additionally, kidney tissue analysis revealed increased levels of MDA, KIM-1, and NGAL due to ischaemia (p<0.05). However, Myrt administration significantly decreased these markers (p<0.05). It was found that the administration of Myrt resulted in increased SOD and CAT enzyme activities, as well as a decrease in GSH levels due to I/R (p<0.05). Histological analysis showed that Myrt significantly reduced renal tissue damage and caspase-3 immunoreactivity (p<0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, Myrt has a protective effect against ischaemia-reperfusion injury.