Cisplatin increases urinary sodium excretion in rats: gender-related differences

OBJECTIVE. There are well-documented reports of cisplatin-associated hyponatremia in the literature, but there are no data on gender-dependent differences. The aim of the present study was to define characteristics of 24-hour urinary sodium excretion in young adult Wistar rats of both genders and to evaluate the gender-related effect of cisplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twelve control Wistar rats (6 males and 6 females) and 12 cisplatin-treated Wistar rats (6 males and 6 females) after a single and repeated injection of cisplatin (once a day for 3 days) at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight into the caudal vein were examined. The experiment was carried out by measuring 24-h urinary sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, creatinine excretion and pH in the urine of age-matched male and female rats. RESULTS. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion, sodium/chloride ratio, and diuresis showed no gender-related differences in control rats. After a single administration of 2.5 mg/kg cisplatin, 24-h urinary sodium excretion was not significantly higher in cisplatin-treated rats than in gender-matched controls. After repeated cisplatin administration, 24-h urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher in cisplatin-treated male rats as compared to matched controls (P<0.05). No such effect was found in cisplatin-treated female rats. CONCLUSION. The study data show that cisplatin enhances urinary sodium excretion in male but not in female rats. The mechanism of such a gender-related effect is not yet clear. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of this pharmacological effect of cisplatin.