International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-7802112016011716311631ENWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences & Department of Biology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, IsfahanWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences & Department of Physiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences & Isfahan Institute of Basic and Applied Sciences Research, IsfahanDepartment of Biology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, IsfahanWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences & Department of Clinical Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanWater and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences & Department of Biology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan20160117<p><strong>Background:</strong> Renal ischemia‑reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the most important causes of kidney injury, which is possibly gender‑related. This study was designed to investigate the role<br />of &gamma;‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) against IRI in ovariectomized estradiol‑treated rats.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> Thirty‑five ovariectomized Wistar rats were used in six experimental groups. The first three groups did not subject to estradiol treatment and assigned as sham‑operated, control, and<br />GABA‑treated groups. GABA (50 &mu;mol/kg) and saline were injected in the treated and control groups 30 min before the surgery, respectively. The second three groups received the same treatments but received estradiol valerate (500 &mu;g/kg, intramuscularly) 3 days prior to the surgery.<br />The IRI was induced in the control and treated groups by clamping the renal artery for 45 min and then 24 h of reperfusion. All animals were sacrificed for the measurements.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The serum levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, kidney weight, and kidney tissue damage score significantly increased in the IRI rats (P &lt; 0.05). GABA significantly decreased<br />the aforementioned parameters (P &lt; 0.05). The uterus weight increased significantly in rats that received estradiol (P &lt; 0.05). Serum and kidney levels of nitrite (nitric oxide metabolite) did not alter significantly. Serum level of malondialdehyde increased significantly in the ovariectomized rats exposed to IRI (P &lt; 0.05).</p><p><br /><strong>Conclusions:</strong> It seems that GABA improved IRI in ovariectomized rats. Estradiol was also nephroprotective against IRI. However, co‑administration of estradiol and GABA could not protect<br />the kidney against IRI.</p><p><br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Estradiol, &gamma;‑aminobutyric acid, ovariectomized rats, renal ischemia‑reperfusion</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/1631http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/1631/1921