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Background: Ischemia-reperfusion induces cell death and inflammatory reaction. It is a common clinical problem associated with acute renal failure and renal transplantation. In this study, the effects of pentoxifylline on rat kidney function and cell injury after ischemia-reperfusion were evaluated.
 Material and methods: In this experimental study, 20 male wistar rats with mean weight of 250-300g were assigned randomly into control and treatment groups (each group 10 rats). In control group, celiotomy was performed by ventral midline incision. The left kidney was isolated, and then both the renal artery and vein were clamped. After 60 minutes of warm ischemia, the vessels were unclamped and the right kidney was removed. 72 hours after reperfusion, tissue samples from the left kidney were taken for histopathologic examination after death. The same procedures were repeated in the treatment group after administration of 45mg/kg/PO pentoxifylline, 3 hours before surgery. This treatment was continued every 12h until death. Apoptotic changes were compared between two groups by Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05.
 Results: The treatment group showed lower levels of cell death than the control group (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Pentoxifylline alone might play a role in attenuation of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and Apoptosis.