Comparison of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-1 levels in kidneys removed from living pigs after cardiac arrest and brain death.

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this paper was to describe differences between levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-3) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in swine kidneys removed from living donors (group I) and after inducing brain death by brain herniation (group II) and cardiac arrest (group III). METHODS:Each group consisted of 3 animals who underwent dual renal removal procedure; kidneys were further rinsed according to standardized procedure with Biolasol perfusion liquid, stored for 24 hours (4°C), and rinsed again. Renal specimens of 4 g mass, including renal cortex and medulla, were collected before and after perfusion (times 0 and 1), after 12 hours (time 2), and after reperfusion (time 3). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to describe levels of NOS-3 and ET-1 in collected tissues homogenates. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare results in groups in relation to total protein content (ng/mg), and the correlation between the 2 substances was measured with the use of Spearman rho. RESULTS:Group I presented low and stable levels of NOS-3 in all time intervals (averages, 0.73, 0.99, 0.52, and 0.89, respectively). Level sof ET-1 were similar (0.87, 0.63, 0.69, and 0.86, respectively), and significant correlation between levels of the 2 substances was observed. Increased levels of NOS-3 (1.89 and 1.86) and ET-1 (1.38 and 1.49) were observed directly after removal in groups II and III and further maintained during organ storage. No correlation in group I was observed, and after perfusion significantly lower level of NOS-3 was observed in kidneys removed after brain death in relation to group III (1.77 vs 2.60). CONCLUSIONS:The lowest and stable levels of NOS-3 and ET1 during storage were observed in kidneys removed from living donors. Levels of analyzed substances in this group showed correlation in subsequent time intervals.

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