ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of vitamin E on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RI/RI) in young and aged rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model of (RI/RI) was induced by bilateral clamping the renal artery and vein for 45 min followed by reperfusion. The contents of BUN, Scr, MDA, SOD, NO and iNOS were measured. Proteins of HSP70 were observed by immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometer was used to estimate the apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After ischemia/reperfusion injury, the contents of BUN, Scr and iNOS were increased. Compared with young ischemia/reperfusion group, the contents of MDA were higher and the contents of SOD were lower in aged ischemia/reperfusion group. The expression of HSP70, the contents of NO and the apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells were higher in aged ischemia/reperfusion group than that in control group. Vitamin E significantly decreased the contents of BUN, Scr, MDA and iNOS, and increased the contents of NO and SOD after RI/RI. The expression of HSP70 was increased in both VE groups than that in both I/R groups. The apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells was less in both VE groups than that in both I/R groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vitamins E may up-regulate the expression of HSP70, increase the contents of SOD and NO, and enhance an ability of clear free radicals, which may contributes to decreasing renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in young and aged rats.</p>