Background: Erythropoietin is a growth factor and it has been shown to support the growth not only of eryhroid progenitor cells but also of certain other cell types. On other hand, adenosine is a renal vasoconstrictor and there is increasing evidence that adenosine receptor antagonism by aminophylline may reduce the severity of renal impairment. The β-amino acid, taurine, is known to be an endogenous antioxidant and a lot of studies about its effect on the lung, heart, and liver tissues have been performed, but there are few reports about its beneficial effect in kidney tissues.Methods: Male albino rats were divided into 3 main groups: normal control group, gentamicin induced acute renal failure (ARF) group which received gentamicin 100 mg /kg /day for 9 days, and cisplatin induced ARF group which received cisplatin once 6 mg /kg. Each group is subdivided into 4 subgroups: untreated subgroup, aminophylline treated subgroup given a dose of 24 mg /kg twice daily for 9 days, epoetin treated subgroup given a dose of 100 IU /kg once daily for 9 days, and taurine treated subgroup given a dose of 7.5 ml of 10 % aqueous solution / kg/ day for 9 days. All drugs were given intraperitoneally. Blood pressure was measured and blood samples were collected for measurement of hematocrit value, serum creatinine, and K+ on 1st, 4th, and 9th days. In addition, kidneys obtained from all rats on the 9th day for light microscopy and immunohistochemistry examination and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was done to estimate the degree of tubular cell damage.Results: aminophylline, epoietin, and taurine have improved significantly the weight loss, decreased significantly the elevated blood pressure, serum creatinine, and serum potassium level induced by ARF. Also, tubular cell regeneration was induced significantly especially with epoietin, and taurine Conclusion: The present work suggests that aminophylline, epoetin, and taurine can attenuate the damaging effect of ARF caused by gentamicin or cisplatin and can enhance tubular cell regeneration and the rate of recovery especially with erythropoietin and taurine.Keyword: acute renal failure, erythropoietin, taurine, aminophylline, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), tubular necrosis