23Na NMR detects protection by glycine and alanine against hypoxic injury in the isolated perfused rat kidney.

Protection against hypoxic injury by supraphysiological glycine and alanine concentrations was investigated in the isolated perfused rat kidney (IPRK). 23Na NMR detects consistent increases in total renal Na in IPRK during hypoxic perfusion. Increasing the concentration of glycine and alanine to 5 mM each produced a 34% (p < 0.001) reduction in the increase in total renal Na following 30 minutes of hypoxia compared to a matched control group supplemented with 5 mM each of serine and glutamine. There was also a trend (p = 0.067) to improvement in the fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) in the glycine plus alanine treated group. Hypoxic alterations of other physiological parameters were not prevented by supraphysiological glycine plus alanine. This suggests that monitoring total renal Na is a more sensitive method of defining renal injury and protection than monitoring changes in FENa, fractional excretion of potassium (FEK) and inulin clearance.