Treatment with a combined endothelin A/B-receptor antagonist does not prevent chronic renal allograft rejection in rats.

A markedly increased expression of endothelin (ET)-1 has been observed in renal allografts with chronic rejection, one of the most common causes of kidney graft loss. In this study we investigated the effect of treatment with a combined ET-A/B-receptor antagonist on the course of chronic renal allograft rejection. Experiments were performed in the Fisher-to-Lewis rat model of chronic rejection.

Improved recovery following posttransplant acute renal failure in rat renal isografts with an oral endothelin-A receptor antagonist.

Background: Delayed renal function after transplantation is a strong predictor of long-term graft survival. As an increased expression of endothelin (ET) has been demonstrated during ischemia/reperfusion injury, we hypothesized that ET-A receptor blockade could improve the recovery of acute renal failure in a rat model of isogeneic kidney transplantation.

Methods: Kidneys of Fisher (F344, RT1(1v1)) rat donors flushed with cooled University of Wisconsin solution were transplanted into bilaterally nephrectomized Fisher rats.

Prevention of chronic renal allograft rejection in rats with an oral endothelin A receptor antagonist.

Background: Chronic rejection is the most common cause of graft loss in renal transplantation. The pathomechanisms underlying chronic rejection are poorly understood, and no treatment has yet successfully been established. We hypothesized that, in analogy to models of reduced renal mass, the administration of a selective endothelin (ET) A receptor antagonist could improve the course of chronic rejection in renal allografts.