Effatsadat Vafamand - Water & Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences- University of Mohaghegh Ardebili, Ardebil, Iran. Department of Physiology
Lotfali Bolboli - University of Mohaghegh Ardebili, Ardebil, Iran. Department of Physiology
Ardeshir Talebi - Water & Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences
Mehdi Nematbakhsh - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan,Iran

Introduction: Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury due to reactive oxygen species(ROS) formation is the main cause of acute kidney damage. Nitric oxide (NO)biosynthesis and oxidative stress are closely related to the pathogenesis of renal I/R injury.This study was undertaken to determine the effects of L-arginine (L-arg) as NO donor andaerobic exercise (EX) and also the combination of L-arg with EX on renal I/R injury inmale and female rats.Methods: 54 male and female Wistar rats were divided into four groups in each genderas control, L-arginine (L-arg), treadmill exercise (EX), and L-arginine plus exercise (Larg& EX). After 8 weeks of EX, animals were exposed to 45 min of bilateral kidneyischemia followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. We assessed serum creatinine (Cr), Kidneytissue damage score (KTDS), kidney weight (KW), serum nitrite and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels.Results: L-arg, EX or combination of L-arg &EX caused a significant decrease in serumlevel of creatinine (Cr) (P<0.05). KTDS decreased significantly in all female treatedgroups and male L-arg treated group (P<0.05) when compared with the control group.However, the kidney weight was decreased significantly in male rats (P<0.05) at 24 hrpost reperfusion, and such observation was not seen in female. No significant differenceswere detected in serum nitrite levels between the groups, but combination of L-arg &EXdecreased the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in female significantly (P<0.05).Conclusion: Pretreatment with L-arg seems to have protective effects against renal I/Rinjury. The protective effect of exercise against renal I/R injury seems to be less than Largbut the reno-protective effect of EX increases when combined with L-arg.

Reperfusion, L-arginine, Aerobic Exercise