RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ulinastatin on renal function and ultrastructure changes after renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Acute ischemic renal injury model was established (45 min of bilateral renal ischemia and reperfusion for 24 h). Thirty Male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation group (control group or group C, without renal ischemia), renal ischemia-reperfusion group (ischemia-reperfusion group or group I, without ulinastatin), renal ischemia-reperfusion and ulinastatin intravenous injection group (ulinastatin group or group U). BUN level, serum creatinine values and renal ultrastructure were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum creatinine (167 +/- 39) micromol/L and BUN concentration (21 +/- 7) mmol/L in group I were significantly higher than those in group U: serum creatinine (116 +/- 13) micromol/L and BUN concentration (14.1 +/- 2.6) mmol/L (P < 0.05). The renal ultrastructure was greatly injured in group I, meanwhile, it was obviously ameliorated in group U.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ulinastatin greatly improved renal function and provides remarkable protection on renal ultrastructure after ischemia-reperfusion of kidney in rats.</p>