The Effects of Nifedipine on Renal Perfusion Pressure and Kidney During Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats*

SUMMARY Cisplatin is one of the most effective cancer chemotherapeutic agent used against various solid tumors. Nephrotoxicity is one of the major dose-limiting side effects of cisplatin. It has been known that different mechanisms as oxidative stress may play an important role in cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity resulted with changes in renal haemodynamics. This study was performed to investigate the effect of nifedipine –one of the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist on changes in renal perfusion pressures and kidneys of rats with cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Male wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups (n=8):1-Control group(1 ml saline. i.p) 2-Cisplatin group (a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p) 3- A single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p) + Nifedipine (2 mg/kg/day, i.p) for five days. When those pre-treated groups compared with control group, perfusion pressures, serum urea and creatinine levels and tissue MDA levels were found significantly higher in cisplatin group (p<0.001). Histopathological examination showed widespread tubular necrosis and dilatation in cisplatin-treated group versus other groups. In cisplatin + nifedipine pretreated group, perfusion pressures, serum urea and creatinine levels and tissue MDA levels found significantly lower than cisplatin group (p<0. 001) and less tubular dilatation and necrosis was observed. As a result it was demonstrated that Nifedipine has protective effects against cisplatin nephrotoxicity. We suggest that this is partly provided by the beneficial effects of nifedipine on altered renal haemodynamics during cisplatin nephrotoxicity.