Introduction: Cisplatin is documented as an effective chemotherapeutic drug with many adverse effects on vital organs,
including nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity and ototoxicity. Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein hormone synthesized by the renal
fibroblasts in the interstitial tissue of the renal cortex in response to hypoxia. Recent research work points out that it could to
improve the renal dysfunction and histopathological alterations caused by oxidative stress.
Aim: Is to examine the possible protective role of erythropoietin in cases with cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity.
Materials and Methods: The present study used fifty adult male albino rats, with their weights within the range of 180-220
g. The rats were divided into five groups, 10 rats each: Group I (Control group): Each of the rats in this group received a
single intraperitoneal injection of a normal saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride). Group II (Cisplatin administration group):
Each of the rats in this group was injected once with cisplatin intaperitoneally at a dose of 6 mg/kg. Group III (Cisplatin
and erythropoietin pre-administration group): Rats of this group were injected with a single dose of erythropoietin; 3000 IU/
kg intaperitoneally, and one day later they were injected with 6 mg/kg of cisplatin intaperitoneally. Group IV (Cisplatin and
erythropoietin co-administration group): Rats of this group were injected with a single dose of erythropoietin; 3000 IU/kg
intaperitoneally together with 6 mg/kg of cisplatin by the same rout. Group V (Erythropoietin and cisplatin post-administration
group): Rats of this group were injected with a single dose of 3000 IU/kg erythropoietin intaperitoneally, and five days later
they were given 6 mg/kg of cisplatin by the same rout.
Results: Cisplatin injection exerted various histopathological and laboratory alterations such as renal tubular cell necrosis,
nuclear pyknosis and cytoplasmic vacuolation as well as marked elevation of levels of blood urea and serum creatinine.
Erythropoietin could improve all the histopathological and functional deterioration exerted by cisplatin injection especially
when given prior to cisplatin administration.
Conclusion: Erythropoietin could prevent the adverse histological and functional alterations induced by intraperitoneal
injection of cisplatin in the kidney of adult male albino rat.