Figure 5.

Xe protects from renal failure, and this is HIF dependent. Mice were given a hydrodynamic injection of PBS or specified siRNA; 24 h later, they were exposed to 70% N₂ or 70% Xe balanced with O₂ for 2 h. Kidney injury was induced by clamping the right renal pedicle for 40 min. The contralateral kidney was removed 24 h after exposure. (A) Kaplan-Meier survival curve. (B and C) Plasma creatinine (B) and urea (C) from the mice with PBS or siRNA injection before Xe preconditioning (or control) followed by ischemia-reperfusion challenge. Samples were taken at the times indicated when animals were killed. Blood samples were not available from three and two animals terminated during postexperimental days 3 through 7 in the sham preconditioning and HIF-1α siRNA + Xe preconditioning groups, respectively.