The effects of rutin on cisplatin induced oxidative retinal and optic nerve injury: an experimental study

To determine the role of rutin in prevention of cisplatin induced retinal and optic nerve injury in an experimental study.

Totally 18 albino Wistar male rats were assigned into three groups, as follows: healthy controls (HC group), only cisplatin administered group for 14 days (CIS group), and rutin + cisplatin administered group for 14 days (RC group). Blood samples were obtained from animals just before the scarification. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), total glutathione (tGSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were investigated. The eyes were enucleated for histopathological evaluations of retina and optic nerve.

MDA, MPO, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were statistically significantly higher (p < 0.001) in CIS group compared with other two groups while tGSH and SOD levels were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001). Regarding these parameters, in CIS group MDA, MPO, IL1β and TNF-α levels were statistically significantly increased with cisplatin administration and giving rutin concomitantly with cisplatin prevented this increase. On the other hand, tGSH and SOD levels were statistically significantly decreased with cisplatin administration and giving rutin concomitantly with cisplatin prevented this decrease. In qualitative analyses of histopathological findings of retina and optic nerve; the results of RC group were similar with the results of healthy controls; but there was statistically significant differences between CIS group and other two groups (p < 0.001).

Concomitant rutin administration may prevent the detrimental effects of cisplatin on lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and inflammation markers and may also avert the histopathological damage on retina and optic nerve. Further studies are warranted to determine the effects of cisplatin and rutin on eye.