Protective effect of pregabalin on renal and renal endothelial damage in sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide

Objective: We investigated the protective effects of pregabalin (PRG) on kidney and renal endothelial damage in sepsis induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups as control, LPS and LPS+PRG. Saline solution was administered 30 mg/kg orally and 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) to the control group. LPS was applied as 5 mg/kg, i.p. to the LPS group. In the LPS+PRG group, PRG at 30 mg/kg orally and one hour before LPS administration, one hour later 5 mg/kg i.p. LPS was applied. Rats were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS administration. Results: White Blood Cell (WBC), granulocyte, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric asid, Total Oxidant Status (TOS) and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) significantly increased (p<0.05); platelets (PLT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) significantly decreased in the LPS group compared to the control group (p<0.05). In the LPS+PRG group WBC, granulocyte, BUN, creatinine, uric asid, TOS and OSI significantly decreased (p<0.05); PLT, aPTT and TAS significantly increased compared to the LPS group(p<0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that kidney and renal endothelial damage in the LPS group decreased in the LPS+PRG group. Immunohistochemically IL1-beta, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha expressions in kidney tissue and Toll-Like Receptors-4 (TLR-4) and NF-kappa B expressions in the renal endothelial tissue significantly increased in the LPS group compared to the control group and significantly decreased in the LPS+PRG group compared to the LPS group (p<0.001). Conclusions: Sepsis causes kidney and renal endothelial damage and PRG reduces this damage. Therefore PRG can be used in prophylactic treatment in sepsis, supported by more studies.