Abstract Acute renal failure (ARF) is an extremely important public health issue in need of novel therapies. The present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy to promote the improvement and recovery of renal function in a preclinical model. Wistar rats were used as the experimental model, and our results show that cisplatin (5mg/kg) can efficiently induce ARF, as measured by changes in biochemical (urea and creatinine) and histological parameters. MSC therapy performed 24h after the administration of chemotherapy resulted in normalized plasma urea and creatinine levels 30 and 45d after the onset of kidney disease. Furthermore, MSC therapy significantly reduced histological changes (intratubular cast formation in protein overload nephropathy and tubular hydropic degeneration) in this ARF model. Thus, considering that current therapies for ARF are merely palliative and that MSC therapy can promote the improvement and recovery of renal function in this model system, we suggest that innovative/alternative therapies involving MSCs should be considered for clinical studies in humans to treat ARF.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos do propofol como inibidor da lesão tecidual na isquemia-reperfusão testicular em ratos. MÉTODOS: Trinta ratos Wistar foram distribuídos em três grupos de 10 animais. G1: apenas exposição testicular. G2 e G3: isquemia testicular por torção do cordão espermático esquerdo a 720º. G3, 45 minutos após a torção do cordão espermático foi administrado propofol 20mg/Kg/hora via intraperitoneal. Após 60 minutos, nos grupos 2 e 3 foram desfeitas as torções dos cordões espermáticos e em seguida os testículos dos animais dos três grupos foram reposicionados no escroto. Após 90 dias foi realizada a orquiectomia bilateral para análise histológica. RESULTADOS: Nos túbulos seminíferos do grupo 1 não se encontrou anormalidades. Nos túbulos seminíferos do Grupo 2, as anormalidades foram 86,6% nos testículos esquerdos e 67,8% nos testículos direitos. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quando se compararam os testículos dos grupos 2 e 3. CONCLUSÃO: O propofol minimiza a lesão tecidual em testículos de ratos submetidos à isquemia-reperfusão na torção do cordão espermático.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of propofol as an inhibitor of tissue injury in testicular ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: 30 Wistar rats were assigned to one of three groups of 10 animals: G1, testicular exposure alone; G2 and G3: testicular ischemia caused by left spermatic cord torsion of 720º. In G3, propofol was administered intraperitoneally at 20 mg/kg/h 45 minutes after spermatic cord torsion. In G2 and G3, spermatic cords were detorsioned after 60 min. In all three groups, testes were subsequently repositioned in the scrotum. After 90 days, bilateral orchiectomy was performed for histological examination. RESULTS: No abnormalities in seminiferous tubules were found in G1. In G2, 86.6% of left testes exhibited abnormalities, in contrast with 67.8% for right testes. In G3, these proportions were 57.3% and 45.6%, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between G2 and G3. CONCLUSION: Propofol reduced the tissue damage in rat testes subjected to ischemia-reperfusion caused by spermatic cord torsion.