Exposure to excessive parenteral Zn and/or cisplatin affects trace element metabolism and enzyme activities in reproductive tissues and kidney of male rats

Abstract Cisplatin (CDDP) is a platinum coordination compound with antineoplastic properties. Cisplatin chemotherapy is known to cause serious damage to the kidney tubules and to the germinal epithelium of the testis. Results of recent investigations suggest that pretreatment with parenteral Zn will prevent some of the damage in these tissues. The present study determined the effects of pretreatment with large doses of parenteral Zn on trace element metabolism and enzyme activity in CDDP-treated rats. Treating young male rats (200 g) with intraperitoneal injections of 90 mg Zn/kg body weight prior to CDDP treatment (3 mg/kg body weight for 3 days) did not inhibit kidney damage; confirmed by elevated area and creatinine concentrations in serum of CDDP-treated rats. Serum and testicular testosterone concentrations were significantly lower in CDDP-treated rats than controls, which suggests Leydig cell damage. Zn treatment did not, however, alleviate this effect. Although angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was significantly elevated in the kidney by Zn treatment, activities in the testis and epididymis were not affected. Contrary to the suggestions that high parenteral Zn treatment protects kidneys and testes from damage, this study shows no such positive effects. However, the study demonstrated that treating rats with high concentrations of Zn and/or CDDP caused numerous changes in tissue concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron and in the activities of Zn-dependent as well as non-Zn-dependent membrane-bound enzymes.