The role of endothelin in early renal cortical reperfusisn in renal transplantation

The role of specific endothelin receptors in the early renal reperfusion an d long-term survival in renal transplantation was investigated in Lewis rat s. Left renal transplantation was performed following 16 h cold ischaemia w ithout and with ETA receptor antagonism and following 16 h cold ischaemia w ith no treatment, with ETA receptor antagonism and with ETB receptor antago nism. The ETA and ETB receptor antagonists, BQ-610 and A-192621 respectivel y, were added to the preservation solution. Renal cortical perfusion (RCP) was measured postoperatively using laser Doppler flowmetry. All rats in the 2-hour groups survived for 15 days. Animals in the untreated 16-hour group or in the A-192621-treated group died between days 3 and 6 after surgery. Fifty percent of the rats in the 16-hour and BQ-610-treated group died betw een days 4 and 7 after surgery while the other 50% survived for 15 days. Su rvival rates correlated well with both the postoperative serum creatinine a nd the recovery of RCP. We conclude that addition of an ETA receptor antago nist to the preservation solution improves renal reperfusion and long-term survival following prolonged ischaemia, whereas ETB receptor antagonism doe s neither. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.