Glutamine-induced heat shock protein protects against renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Aim: To find out if a single dose of glutamine can relieve acute renal ischaemia‐reperfusion injury in rats, to explore the role of heat shock protein in this process. Methods: Forty‐eight Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: saline as control group; glutamine group; quercetin (heat shock protein inhibitor) plus glutamine group; and quercetin plus saline group. The renal ischaemia‐reperfusion rat model was established 1 h after drug administration. Serum creatinine (CR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were analyzed. The kidneys were harvested to evaluate the degree of renal injuries. Heat shock protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and apoptosis index was calculated. Results: Statistical data from CR, BUN, haematoxylin–eosin (HE) dyeing and TUNEL assay results showed that ischaemia‐reperfusion injury and cell apoptosis in the glutamine group were significantly milder than those in control group (P