Protective effect of astaxanthin against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Objective:Cisplatin is an antineoplastic agent that is highly effective and widely used against solid tumors in cancer chemotherapy.Nephrotoxicity is the most important side effect that limits the use of cisplatin.The pathogenesis of acute renal injury with cisplatin is multifactorial, including oxidative stress, inflammation and cell cycle changes.Astaxanthin is a high antioxidant, antiinflammatory, carotenoid pigment obtained from microalgae called haematococcus pluvialis.Studies have shown that astaxanthin reduces inflammation and improves the immune response.In this study, the effect of astaxanthin against cisplatin nephrotoxicity which will be formed experimentally by using antioxidant and antiinflammatory effect will be evaluated clinically, biochemically and histopathologically. Material and Method:In our study, Spraque-Dawley genus, 48male rats weighing 250-350 gr were used.Experimental animals were divided into 6 groups of 8 animals in each group.No injection was applied to the control group (Group 1).Olive oil control group (Group 2)was administered only olive oil. Sham group (Group 3) received 75 gr of astaxanthin extract per day.The cisplatin group (Group 4) received a single dose of cisplatin 16 mg/kg on day 5 only.Cisplatin + astaxanthin 25 mg group (Group 5) on the 5th day 16 mg / kg single dose cisplatin and daily 25 gr astaxanthin extract were administered. Cisplatin + astaxanthin 75 mg group (Group 6) on the 5th day 16 mg/kg single dose cisplatin and daily 75 gr astaxanthin extract were administered.Injections were administered intraperitoneally.Before surgical intervention, anesthesia was given by intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg ketamine and 10 mg/kg xylazine.On day 8, all rats were sacrified and histopathologic, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyzes were performed. Results:In the biochemical study, TOS levels were significantly increased and TAS levels were significantly decreased in the cisplatin group, TAS levels were significantly increased while TOS level was found to be significantly decreased in the cisplatin + astaxanthin 25 mg and cisplatin + astaxanthin 75 mg groups. Microscopic histopathological examination of sections from the kidneys of rats revealed that the kidney structures were completely normal in the control, olive oil control and astaxanthin 75 mg control groups, but it was not normal in the cisplatin group.Changes in the cisplatin group were not observed in the cisplatin + astaxanthin 25 mg and cisplatin + astaxanthin 75 mg groups, and the renal histology showed typical histologic features and there was no difference between the two groups.In the immunohistochemical study, the positive immunocytochemical density was found to be significantly increased in the cisplatin group, whereas in all other groups, the tubule cells were found to be immunologically negative and there was no significant difference between the groups.When statistical analysis was performed on the findings, it was found that the surface area of the renal corpuscle, proximal and distal tubules in the cisplatin group was significantly increased compared to the control group. Nosignificant difference was found between the other groups. Conclusion:With our findings, it is concluded that astaxanthin has protective effects on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity. Key words:Astaxanthin, nephrotoxicity,cisplatin