The purpose of this study was to evaluate the function of mitochondria obtained from kidneys submmited to 48 hours of cold ischemia followed by 1 hour of reperfusion, with and without the use of chlorpromazine. Sixteen adult mongrel dogs were submitted to unilateral nephrectomy. In 13 animals the kidney was then perfused with Euro-Collins solution and preserved during 48-hours in cold solution. After that time auto-transplantation was performed. Reperfusion time was 1 hour. After that, the transplanted kidney was taken out and samples were obtained for mitochondrial evaluation. The animals were divided into 3 groups: group N - control without ischemia (3 animals); group I - hypothermia (6 animals); group II - hypothermia + IV injection of 2 mg/Kg of chlorpromazine 15 minutes before nephrectomy. The results of mitochondrial phosphorilation and swelling showed no statistical differences. However, group II animals showed higher values during the reversion phase of the swelling. Chlorpromazine action on mitochondrial function has been previously described, providing better mitochondria recovering from ischemic lesion. The results obtained in this study may be related to the short reperfusion time, or we can argue that chlorpromazine has no protection after prolonged ischemic time, or chlorpromazine action may be masqueraded by hypothermia.
Kidney transplantation; chlorpromazine; kidney ischemia-reperfusion