CISPLATIN AND CARBOPLATIN INDUCED CHANGES IN THE NEUROHYPOPHYSIS AND PARATHYROID, AND THEIR ROLE IN NEPHROTOXICITY

Cytochemical and ultrastructural studies in Wistar rats [Crl: (WI)BR] show that cisplatin treatment (5-9 mg/kg) induces a release of neurose cretory granules from the neurohypophysis with a corresponding decreas e in the urine output in a time and dose dependent fashion. Cisplatin induces low blood calcium and phosphate levels with a corresponding in crease in the dark cells of the parathyroid gland. Injections of calci um before and during the treatment of cisplatin are effective in comba ting hypocalcemia, nephrotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity due to cisplatin. Carboplatin, a less nephrotoxic agent, does not demonstrat e any of these changes.