Protection of canine renal grafts by renin-angiotensin inhibition through nucleoside transport blockade.

The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of R 75231, a nucleoside transport inhibitor, on renin-angiotensin release after renal ischemia-reperfusion and (2) to establish a possible protective effect of this drug on renal function. We used a canine model for auto- transplantation of kidneys that had been subjected to 30 min of warm ischemia and subsequently to 24h of cold storage in HTK preservation solution, with immediate contralateral nephrectomy. R 75231 was injected intravenously into six dogs in two equal portions of 0.05 mg/kg both 30 min and 10 min before reanastomosis was established. Another six dogs were used as a control group. At 2 weeks post-transplantation, five out of six dogs in the R 75231 group and one out of six in the control group were still alive. Starting on day 4, serum creatinine was lower in the R 75231 group than in the control group (p < 0.005). In contrast to the control group, an inversion of the median preischemia adenosine/inosine ratio was observed in the R 75231 group after reperfusion (0.4 preischemia vs 4.0 after 60 min of reperfusion). Reperfusion of the graft resulted in an immediate increase in renin, angiotensin I, and angiotensin II venous blood levels in the control group. In the R 75231 group, renin, angiotension I, and angiotensin II levels were significantly lower. We conclude that administration of R 75231 before reperfusion has a protective effect on post-transplant function of kidneys that have been subjected to prolonged warm ischemia. This effect may, at least in part, be ascribed to inhibition of the breakdown and disposal of endogenous adenosine which, in turn, inhibits the excessive stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system in the early phase of reperfusion.