Effects of Intrathecal, Intraperitoneal, and Rectal Ozone Application Routes on Kidney Tissue in Rats with Spinal Cord Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Spinal cord ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is a serious complication that can develop after spinal and thoracoabdominal surgeries or spinal cord traumas. This study aimed to investigate the effects of medical ozone on kidney tissue when administered via different routes in a spinal cord IRI model in rats. Thirty rats were divided into five groups: control (C), ischemia–reperfusion (IR), IR-rectal ozone (IRRO), IR-intrathecal ozone (IRITO), and IR-intraperitoneal (i.p.) ozone (IRIPO). An ozone–oxygen mixture was administered 30 min before midline laparotomy: 1 mg/kg (50 µg/mL) by rectal insufflation to the IRRO group, 20 µL (20 µg/mL) intrathecally to the IRITO group, and 0.7 µg/kg (50 µg/mL) intraperitoneally to the IRIPO group. The spinal cord IR model was established. The left kidney was then harvested for histopathological and biochemical analyses. Malondialdehyde levels and paraoxonase-1 enzyme activities were significantly lower in the IRRO, IRITO, and IRIPO groups than in the IR group. Catalase (CAT) enzyme activity was found to be significantly higher in the IRITO and IRIPO groups than in the IR group. Glomerular vacuolization, vascular vacuolization and hypertrophy, and Bowman space dilation were significantly higher in the IRITO and IRIPO groups than in the IR group. Tubular dilation and lymphocyte infiltration were found to be significantly lower in the IRITO, IRIPO, and IRRO groups than in the IR group. Tubular hyaline cylinders were found to be significantly lower in the IRITO group than in the IR and IRRO groups. Ozone can regulate the negative effects of IRI by regulating cellular oxidative stress mechanisms. This effect was achieved most effectively on kidney tissue in the spinal cord IRI model through intrathecal and intraperitoneal administration. The use of ozone can be a highly beneficial supportive treatment to protect kidney tissue from the negative effects of IRI, an area of study in which preventive treatments should be at the forefront.