The protective role of endogenous nitric oxide donor (L-arginine) in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity: Gender related differences in rat model

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CP) as a potential drug for solid tumors produces nephrotoxicity and disturbs endothelial function. CP induced nephrotoxicity may be gender related. Nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in endothelial function and L-arginine as endogenous NO donor promotes endothelial function. The role of L-arginine in CP induced nephrotoxicity model and its gender related was investigated in this study. METHODS: Thirty three Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups. The groups 1 (male, n = 6) and 2 (female, n = 11) received a single dose of L-arginine (300 mg/kg, ip), and the day after, they received a single dose of CP (7 mg/kg). The group 3 (male, n = 9) and 4 (female, n = 7) were assigned to the same regimen except for saline instead of L-arginine. All animals were sacrificed one week after CP administration. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and nitrite were measured. The kidneys were also removed for pathological investigations. RESULTS: Five animals died. All CP treated animals lost weight. The normalized weigh loss was significantly different between male and female in CP+L-arginine treated animals (p < 0.05). BUN and creatinine were increased significantly in male treated with CP and in female treated with CP+L-arginine (p < 0.05). L-arginine reduced BUN in male (not in female) when compared with control groups (p < 0.05). The level of nitrite was increased significantly in L-arginine treated animals. Kidney tissue damage score and normalized kidney weight were greater in females treated with CP+ L-arginine than female received CP alone (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: L-arginine may protect against CP induced nephrotoxicity in male, but it promotes the induced damage in female. The exact mechanism need to be defined.