Effects of dexmedetomidine at different concentrations on donor kidneys after cardiac death in rats

Objective To compare the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) at different concentrations on donor kidneys from donation after circulatory death (DCD) in rats during static cold storage, and to investigate the appropriate dose of Dex in protection of donor kidneys of DCD. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (NC group), model group (0 nmol/L Dex) and 6 dosed Dex groups (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1 000 and 10 000 nmol/L), with 5 animals in each group. All rats were euthanized after anesthetization and intravenous injection of heparin. In 30 min after warm ischemia, renal perfusion was given with normal saline to the rats of the NC group, and with the University of Wisconsin organ preservation solution (UW solution) containing corresponding concentrations of Dex to the rest groups. In the NC group, the kidneys were harvested, fixed directly and stored at -80 ℃. The kidneys of the other groups were harvested after infusion of UW solution containing different concentrations of Dex and