| Abstract |
Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most active medications in cancer treatment and has some adverse effects such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and testicular toxicity. The present research was planned to determine the ameliorative effects of L-carnitine (LC) against cisplatin (CP) induced hepatic, renal and testicular oxidative stress in rats, via investigating some serum biochemical and tissue oxidative/antioxidant parameters, histopathological alterations, and immunohistochemical expressions of two different intermediate filaments (IFs) proteins; vimentin (VIM) and cytokeratin 18 (CK18). Twenty-eight rats were divided into four groups (7 rats each). Groups I and II were orally administered saline and LC (100 mg/kg body weight), respectively, once daily for 30 consecutive days. Group III received saline orally once daily and a single dose of CP on the 27th day of the experiment (7.5 mg/kg, IP). Group IV received LC and CP. Injection of CP significantly increased serum ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine, and urea, while serum total protein, albumin and serum testosterone level were significantly decreased.
Also, CP induced a dramatic increase in the MDA level along with a substantial decrease in GSH and CAT in the hepatic, renal and testicular tissues. Histologically, all of the liver, kidney and testis of the CP treated group revealed marked degenerative changes. Also, overexpression of both VIM and CK18 in hepatic, renal and testicular tissues, after CP injection, was noted. On the other hand, the administration of LC in the CP injected group (Group IV) restored the biochemical parameters, histological, and immunohistochemical pictures towards the normality.
In conclusion, LC may be given during chemotherapy with CP to ameliorate its oxidative stress and restore the normal organization of Ifs, especially VIM and CK18 within the CP intoxicated hepatic, renal and testicular cells. |
