The protective effect of astaxanthin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of astaxanthin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 264.83 ± 7.39 g were randomly divided into six groups of eight animals each. These were constituted as control, olive oil control, astaxanthin control, cisplatin control, 16 mg/kg cisplatin & 25 mg/kg astaxanthin and 16 mg/kg cisplatin & 75 mg/kg astaxanthin groups. Biochemical evaluation was performed by measuring blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total oxidant status and total antioxidant status. Renal corpuscle, proximal and distal tubules areas (μm²) were calculated for histopathological evaluation, and Caspase-3 staining was performed for immunohistochemical evaluation.

Cisplatin reduced total antioxidant status levels and increased blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total oxidant status, and Caspase-3 levels. It also caused dilatation, vacuolization, and loss of tubular epithelial cells in the proximal and distal tubules, and glomerular degeneration and edema were determined in kidney tissue (p < 0.05). Administration of 25 mg and 75 mg astaxanthin increased total antioxidant status levels, reduced blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total oxidant status, and Caspase-3, and ameliorated degenerative distal and proximal tubules, glomerular degeneration and edema in kidney tissue (p < 0.05).

The nephrotoxic effect of cisplatin was diminished by the antioxidant effect of astaxanthin.