Sex differences in protective effect of recombinant human erythropoietin against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
BACKGROUND
The protective role of recombinant human erythropoietin (RHE) against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity has been reported, but the role of sex differences is not clearly known. The aim of this study was to determine the sex-based difference in the protective effect of RHE against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.


METHODS
Thirty-three Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. According to protocol l, male and female rats were treated with RHE (100 IU/kg/d) for 3 days and then received a single dose of cisplatin (7 mg/kg). According to protocol 2, the rats received the same single dose of cisplatin and then were treated with RHE for 7 days. Two other groups of male and female rats received a similar regimen of protocol 2 except for saline instead of RHE. All the animals were sacrificed 1 week after cisplatin administration.


RESULTS
All of the experimental animals experienced weight loss. The percentage change of weight in male rats with protocol 1 was significantly less than that in male rats in protocol 2 and control groups. However, in female groups, the percentage of change in weights was slightly higher with protocol 2 than with protocol 1 and control treatment. Administration of RHE significantly decreased changes in serum creatinine, BUN, and malondialdehyde levels in male rats, but not in females. No significant difference was observed in serum nitrite level, kidney weight, and kidney damage score between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that erythropoietin may lead to different responses against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in male and female rats.
Water and Electrolytes Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. nematbakhsh@med.mui.ac.ir.
Fatemeh
F
Eshraghi-Jazi
Mehdi
M
Nematbakhsh
Zahra
Z
Pezeshki
Hamid
H
Nasri
Ardeshir
A
Talebi
Tahereh
T
Safari
Azam
A
Mansouri
Safoora
S
Mazaheri
Farzaneh
F
Ashrafi
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D004921:Erythropoietin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003404:Creatinine; D002945:Cisplatin