Protective effects of vitamin C against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in adult rats: A dose-dependent study

Cisplatin is one of the most active cytotoxic agents in the treatment of ca ncer, but its clinical use is associated with nephrotoxicity. In the presen t study we report the effects of different amounts of vitamin C (50, 100 or 200 mg kg(-1) body wt.) in rat kidneys treated with cisplatin (5 mg kg(-1) body wt.), using single doses of both compounds. Cisplatin administration induced lipid peroxidation which was accompanied by a decrease in renal glu tathione level in animals killed 7 days after treatments. Furthermore, an i ncrease in serum creatinine has been observed. Treatment of animals with vi tamin C 10 min prior to the cisplatin inhibited cisplatin-mediated damage. Seven days after vitamin C plus cisplatin treatments, the depleted level of glutathione and changes in the creatinine clearance recovered to significa nt levels (P < 0.05). Similarly, the enhanced serum creatinine levels which are indicative of renal injury showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) w ith the three doses of vitamin C tested. The protective effect of vitamin C was dose-dependent. The results suggest that vitamin C is an effective che moprotective agent against nephrotoxicity induced by the antitumoral cispla tin in Wistar adult rats. (C) 2000 Academic Press.