167
OBJECTIVE: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) leads to reac-
tive oxygen species formation and cell death in kidney
tissue with injury and organ transplantation. Simvas-
tatin (SIM) is an antioxidant, anti-infammatory, and
anticoagulant agent. Alterations in I/R-induced acute
kidney injury model with SIM treatment were analyzed.
STUDY DESIGN: Wistar rats (n = 28) were grouped
into Sham, Ischemia, I/R, and I/R + SIM treated. Left rat
kidney renal vessels were clamped for 60 minutes for
ischemia, and the I/R group had 6 hours of reperfusion.
10 mg/kg SIM was given orally for 28 days. MDA,
GSH, and MPO were analyzed. Kidney tissues were
paraffn embedded, and primary antibodies TNF-α and
caspase-3 were applied for immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: In the I/R group, intense infammatory cell
infltration around the vessels and necrosis in the glo-
merular structures were observed. In the treated group,
proximal and distal tubular cells were found to be close
to normal. Immunoexpression of caspase-3 in the ische-
mia group was positive in degenerative glomeruli. In
the treated group, TNF-α expression was negative in
the glomerular structures. MDA and MPO levels were
signifcantly increased in ischemia and I/R.
CONCLUSION: We suggest that SIM treatment im-
proved kidney tissue structure and function in a model
of I/R injury. (Anal Quant Cytopathol Histpathol
2021;43:167–173)
Keywords: caspase-3; immunohistochemistry; is-
chemia/reperfusion; kidney; MPO; simvastatin.
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a situation when the
blood supply to an organ is restricted—ischemia—
and then reoxygenation of tissues occurs—reper-
fusion. Following the reperfusion procedure, when
oxygen increases, reactive oxygen species (ROS)
generate and cause cell death.
1
Statins, specifc inhi-
bitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A
(HMG-CoA) reductase, are used to lower the cho-
lesterol level for a long time.
2
Statins have pleiotro-
pic effects: antioxidant, inhibiting of thrombogenic
responses, and healing of endothelial function.
3
Statins inhibit the formation of proinfammatory
cytokines and decrease infammation.
4
Statins used
after major abdominal, cardiac, thoracic, and vas-
cular surgery decrease the development of acute
Analytical and Quantitative Cytopathology and Histopathology
®
0884-6812/21/4304-0167/$18.00/0 © Science Printers and Publishers, Inc.
Analytical and Quantitative Cytopathology and Histopathology
®
Prolonged Simvastatin Treatment Provided a
Decrease in Apoptotic, Infammatory, and
Oxidative Stress Markers in Ischemia-
Reperfusion–Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Model of Rats
Alper Kafkasli, M.D., and Ebru Gokalp Ozkorkmaz, Ph.D.
From the Urology Clinic, Lutf Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul; and the Department of Histology and Embryology,
Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
Alper Kafkasli is Assistant Professor, Urology Clinic, Lutf Kirdar Training and Research Hospital (Orcid ID: 0000-0002-0362-8165).
Ebru Gokalp Ozkorkmaz is Assistant Professor, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University (Orcid
ID: 0000-0002-1967-4844).
Address correspondence to: Ebru Gokalp Ozkorkmaz, Ph.D., Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle
University, 21010 Diyarbakır, Turkey (ebrug76@gmail.com).
Financial Disclosure: The authors have no connection to any companies or products mentioned in this article.