[Prophylactic effect of methylprednisolone on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats]

Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (cisplatin) is a very effective antitumor drug, but It has an adverse effect of nephrotoxicity. There are many reports concerning protective agents against cisplatin nephrotoxicity, but clinically useful modalities are very few. In the present study, prophylactic effects of methylprednisolone (MP) on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity were examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected iv with 6.5 mg/kg of cisplatin combined with a subcutaneous MP given sc in various doses at various timing. Rats were killed 5 days after cisplatin injection to determine BUN and serum creatinine levels. BUN and serum creatinine levels in rats pretreated with MP 4 or 2 hr before cisplatin injection were significantly lower than those in rats received cisplatin alone. Our preliminary results suggest that pretreatment with MP is an effective means of protection against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.