Efeito da curcumina nas alterações renais da hipertensão por inibição de óxido nítrico em ratos

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is a clinical condition that leads to the development of several renal alterations, in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) directly participate. Curcumin is a natural antioxidant that has been extensively studied in the literature. However, the mechanisms related to the prevention of renal alterations promoted by curcumin use in the model of induced hypertension by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases (L-NAME) remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the curcumin effects on renal alterations and on MMPs and ROS increase in the experimental arterial hypertension. Arterial hypertension was induced by L-NAME treatment and the animals from both control and hypertension groups were treated with curcumin or vehicle [groups: CV (Control + Vehicle); CC (Control + Curcumin); LV (L-NAME + Vehicle); L100 (L-NAME + Curcumin 100); L50 (L-NAME + Curcumin 50)]. By the end of protocols, blood and kidneys were collected and used to determine renal function parameters as well as some oxidative stress, MMPs levels and ED1 expression experiments. L-NAME induced hypertension promoted an increase in blood pressure, creatinine levels, MMP-9 levels, MMP- 2 activity, and ED1 expression. The curcumin treatment attenuated creatinine levels, MMP-2 expression, MMP-9 levels, ED1 expression and promoted an increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD and in the number of glomeruli in the renal tissue. Thus, the curcumin treatment attenuated renal alterations caused by L-NAME induced hypertension with an improvement of renal function in these animals.