Enhanced post‐ischaemic recovery in rabbit kidney after pretreatment with an indeno–indole compound and ascorbate monitored in vivo by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Objective: To investigate whether combined pretreatment with lipid‐ and water‐soluble antioxidants gave better restoration of energy phosphates after ischaemia–reperfusion of rabbit kidneys than single pretreatment with a lipid‐soluble antioxidant. Material and Methods: Thirteen New Zealand white rabbits were used for the study. Changes in energy phosphates were measured in vivo using volume‐selective 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The indeno–indole compound H290/51 was chosen as a lipid‐soluble antioxidant and ascorbate as a water‐soluble antioxidant. Results: The combined pretreatment led to significantly better restoration of the β‐adenosine triphosphate:inorganic phosphate ratio after 60 min of ischaemia and 120 min of reperfusion compared with the single pretreatment. Analyses of blood pressure and blood gas changes showed that the beneficial effect of combined pretreatment was not caused by a better general condition of the animals in that group but by a direct effect on the kidneys. Conclusions: Combined pretreatment with lipid‐ and water‐soluble antioxidants leads to better restoration of energy phosphates in rabbit kidneys subjected to ischaemia–reperfusion compared with single pretreatment with a lipid‐soluble antioxidant.