Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate expression of HSP70 and p-53 proteins as mechanisms of protection of the renal tubular epithelial cells from l-arginine that induces cellular stress.
Material and methods: The study material consisted of 16 white Wistar female rats. The rats were divided into 2 equal groups. The rats in the experimental group received L-arginine 40 mg/kg body weight per capita every other day for 2 weeks and were decapitated after 3 weeks of the experiment. After decapitation, specimens from the kidney were collected, fixed in 10% formalin, and then embedded in paraffin blocks. Proteins HSP70 and p-53 on slides were detected using the standard three-step immunohistochemical method.
Results: The quantitative evaluation of HSP70 and p-53 expression showed that the area occupied with positive HSP70 and p-53 reaction in the rat renal tubular cells of the experimental group (p-53: 2835.44 ±254.72 μm²; HSP70: 24111.42 ±4290.88 μm²) was more statistically significant than the control group (p-53: 1882.05 ±466.43 μm²; HSP70: 11388.63 ±1455.24 μm²). In the present study, the dose of L-arginine was similar to the one that was used in the gestosis treatment of pregnant women.
Conclusions: The renal epithelial cells responded to L-arginine therapy, increasing expression of HSP70 and p-53 proteins. The study showed that L-arginine as a donor of exogenous nitric oxide has a disruptive effect on the renal tubular cells of rat kidneys. Thus it is going to be a subject of the author’s future investigations.