Abstract

Cisplatin is an antioneoplastic drug with serious side effects such as nephrotoxicity. The aim of our morphometric study was to quantify changes of glomeruli, glomerular basal membrane and tubules induced by cisplatin and to examine possible beneficial effect of quercetin on structural damages in this model of nephrotoxicity. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided in 4 groups. The CIS group received a single dose of cisplatin (8 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, whereas the CISQ group received quercetin intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 9 days and a single dose of cisplatin intraperitoneally (8 mg/kg). Animals in the Q group received quercetin (50 mg/kg) and the C group received saline (1 mL/day), both given intraperitoneally for 9 days. Quantitative evaluation of structural damages was performed by histological and morphometric examination of kidneys. Functional alterations in the kidneys were determinated by biochemical and antioxidant parameters. Histological sections of kidney showed that quercetin ameliorated cystic luminal dilatation, cell swelling and degeneration of proximal tubules induced by cisplatin. Quercetin also reduced histopathological changes of glomeruli and glomerular basement membrane. Morphometric analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the area of tubules, size of glomeruli, glomerular basement membrane thickness and cellularity of glomeruli between CIS and CISQ group. Quercetin showed a significant protective effect probably by decreasing level of oxidative stress, which was confirmed through elevating catalase activity and decreasing concentrations of AOPP in kidney tissue in the CISQ group. The results suggest that quercetin has nephroprotective action and ameliorates oxidative stress in cisplatin-treated rats.