Synthesis of uric acid in isolated normothermic perfused mongrel and Dalmatian dog kidneys

Renal synthesis of uric acid (urate) in the dog was demonstrated by use of two isolated kidney preparations during pulsatile perfusion at 37 degrees C with artificial perfusate or with a plasma fraction. During perfusion of mongrel and Dalmatian dog kidneys with 0.5 mg of [14C]xanthine per 100 ml, a mean of 24.3 and 25.4 mug of [14C]urate per minute, respectively, entered either urine or perfusate after its synthesis in the isolated kidney. Approximately 6.2% of the combined extracellular radiolabeled urate formed in the isolated mongrel kidney was excreted in the urine and 15.7% in the urine of isolated Dalmatian dog kidneys. Recirculating the perfusate without the kidney did not convert any radioactively labeled xanthine to urate and therefore the radioactively labeled urate appearing in the urine and recycled perfusate must have been formed in the renal parenchyma. Renal synthesis of urate was blocked by the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol. In the presence of allopurinol, [14C]xanthine was excreted unchanged into the urine. </jats:p

Allopurinol in Renal Ischemia

Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and antioxidant free radical scavenger which facilitates the protection of ischemic organs in part via this mechanism of action. The accumulation of free radicals during ischemia and reperfusion is in great manner overcome by inhibitors of xanthine oxidase and by the development of endogenous antioxidants. The ischemic lesion generates a well-established inflammatory response with the subsequent production of inflammatory molecules characteristically present at the first stages of the injury. Inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and other cellular and molecular compounds are consequently produced as the lesion sets in. Under these conditions, allopurinol diminishes the effect of inflammatory mediators during the ischemic inflammatory response. This study reviews the literature associated with allopurinol and renal ischemia making special emphasis on the best dose and time of administration of allopurinol regarding its protective effect. It also defines the most accepted mechanism of protection on ischemichally damaged kidneys.Medicin