Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of several human cancers and nephrotoxicity is the major toxicity of this compound. The present work demonstrated that cisplatin produced variable histological alterations in the kidneys of rats. These changes might be due to oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen radicals. The administration of L- carnitine was found to reduce the observed harmful effects of cisplatin on the kidneys.