Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Suppresses Apoptosis and Promotes Renal Tubular Regeneration After Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

BACKGROUND: Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), in addition to I/R injury-induced tissue inflammation, necrosis and apoptosis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is defined as a treatment in which a patient is intermittently exposed to 100% oxygen pressurized to a pressure above sea level (> 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA), 1.0 ATA = 760 mmHg). It has been used in a number of medical conditions with a proven efficacy in a limited number of disorders. However, the effects of HBO therapy on apoptosis and proliferative activity after I/R injury have not been fully understood. OBJECTIVES: We studied the possible beneficial effects of HBO therapy on apoptosis and tubular cell regeneration after renal I/R injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into three groups: Sham (Sham-operated rats); I/R (animals submitted to I/R); and I/R + HBO (I/R rats exposed to HBO). Tubular cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA laddering and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated uridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Cellular proliferation activity was determined using the anti-Ki-67 antibody. RESULTS: A significant decrease in apoptotic cells and increase in proliferative reaction were observed in the I/R + HBO group compared to the I/R group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that HBO suppressed apoptosis, which caused inflammation after renal I/R, and promoted tubular cell regeneration. HBO has protective effects against AKI caused by renal I/R through the inhibition of apoptosis.