Molecular and immunohistochemical evidence of renal tubular apoptosis during and after pneumoperitoneum in oliguric rats

Oliguria has been demonstrated during pneumoperitoneum and laparoscopy, We attempted to characterize this renal dysfunction on histologic and molecula r bases. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 36) were subjected to intra-abdomina l pressures of 0 or 10 mm Hg over 1, 2, and 4 hours. Kidneys were harvested . Fourteen additional rats underwent 2 hours of 10 mm Hg intra-abdominal pr essure followed by desufflation and kidney harvest 2, 4, 10, and 22 hours l ater. Kidneys were analyzed by apoptotic body counting, DNA electrophoresis , and determination of sulfated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) mRNA expression. Imm unohistochemical analysis demonstrated apoptosis without evidence of cellul ar necrosis, DNA fragmentation patterns and increased SGP-2 mRNA expression were consistent with apoptosis, Renal tubular apoptosis can be produced in rats undergoing pneumoperitoneum, The renal physiologic effects and molecu lar changes resulting from elevated intraabdominal pressure and its subsequ ent release are most likely related to transient renal ischemia and associa ted reperfusion injury.