Organ-Protective Effects of Fullerenol and Desflurane in a Rat Model of Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Abstract

To investigate the protective effects of fullerenol applied before ischemia induction and desflurane anesthesia applied during ischemia–reperfusion (IR) induction in the lungs and kidneys of a lower-extremity IR injury rat model. After receiving ethical approval, we randomly divided 30 rats into five groups: sham (S), IR, IR with 100 mg/kg fullerenol (IR-FUL), IR with 6.7% desflurane (IR-DES), IR with 100 mg/kg fullerenol and 6.7% desflurane (IR-FUL-DES). Fullerenol was administered 30 min before the IR procedure in the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups, and desflurane was administered during the IR procedure in the IR-DES and IR-FUL-DES groups. During the procedure, an atraumatic microvascular clamp was placed in the aorta for 120 min. The clamp was then removed to achieve reperfusion for 120 min. Finally, at the end of reperfusion, we evaluated the extracted lung and kidney tissue samples and assessed them biochemically and histopathologically. The lung damage scores of the IR-FUL, IR-DES, and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly lower than those of the IR group (p <.0001, p =.002, and p <.0001, respectively). The renal tubule injury scores of the IR, IR-FUL, IR-DES, and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly higher than those of the S group (p <.0001). By contrast, the renal tubule injury scores of the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups were significantly lower than those of the IR group (p <.0001 and p =.001, respectively). Moreover, kidney intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) expression was significantly lower in all the treatment groups, particularly the IR-FUL group, than in the IR group, and lung ICAM1 expression was significantly lower in the IR-FUL and IR-FUL-DES groups than in the other treatment groups. In the lung and kidney tissues, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, catalase activity, glutathione-S-transferase activity, and arylesterase activity were relatively high in the treatment groups. The application of fullerenol before and after desflurane anesthesia during IR has protective effects on rat lungs and kidneys. In particular, histopathology confirmed that the application of fullerenol 30 min before IR induction and desflurane anesthesia during IR induction reduced oxidative stress and alleviated IR-related damage in the lungs and kidneys. These findings may have important translational relevance, suggesting potential perioperative strategies for protecting organs from ischemia–reperfusion injury in clinical settings. © The Author(s) 2025.