LAUSR

Abstract Background The cholestatic liver disease could develop in association with a wide range of etiologies. The liver is the most affected organ by cholestasis. It has also been found that the kidney is severely injured during cholestasis. Oxidative stress seems to play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of cholestasis-induced hepatic and renal injury. The current study was designed to evaluate the effects of agmatine supplementation on hepatic and renal injury and its potential mechanisms of action. Methods Rats underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery. BDL animals were treated with agmatine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, gavage) for seven consecutive days. Results Significant reactive oxygen species formation, lipid peroxidation, increased oxidized glutathione level, decreased tissue antioxidant capacity and depleted reduced glutathione (GSH) were detected in cholestatic animals. Moreover, mitochondrial indices, including ATP level, membrane potential, lipid peroxidation, and swelling, were deteriorated in both liver and kidney of cholestatic rats. Liver fibrosis and renal tissue histopathological changes were also evident in BDL rats. It was found that agmatine supplementation significantly alleviated cholestasis-induced hepatic and renal injury. Conclusion The mechanism of action of agmatine could be related to its antioxidant properties and the positive effects of this amine on mitochondrial indices.