In vivo evidence suggesting a role for purine-catabolizing enzymes in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and effect of erdosteine against this toxicity

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the possible role of adenosine deaminase (AD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and the effect of erdosteine in decreasing the toxicity. The intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (7 mg kg(-1) body weight) induced a significant increase in plasma creatinine level and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and plasma and damaged renal tissue activities of AD and XO in rats. Co-treatment with erdosteine (10 mg kg(-1)day(-1)) attenuated the increase in the plasma creatinine and BUN levels, and significantly prevented the increase in tissue and plasma AD and XO activities (P<0.05). The results of this study revealed that XO and AD may play an important role in the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The potent free radical scavenger erdosteine may have protective potential in this process and it will become a promising drug in the prevention of this undesired side-effect of cisplatin, but further studies are needed to illuminate the exact protection mechanism of erdosteine against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.