Acute effect of cyclophosphamide on rat’s urinary bladder and the possible protective role of sulforaphane: a histological and ultrastructural study

Background: Cyclophosphamide disturbs the oxidant and antioxidant balance that is associated with several unwanted toxic effects and induction of secondary cancers. The aim of this study was to test the protective effects of Sulforaphane on the cyclophosphamide toxicity of rat urinary bladder. Methods: 32 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups, 8 animal each (n=8). Group I received saline intra-peritoneal, group II received 5 mg/kg sulforaphane for 5 days and then saline, group III received 0.9% saline intra-peritoneal for consecutive 5 days and a single dose of cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg on the six-day, group IV received sulforaphane at a dose of 5 mg/kg for consecutive 5 days and a single dose of cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg on the six day. On the seventh day of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and the urinary bladder samples were dissected for histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations and electron microscopic studies. Results : the mucosa of the urinary bladder of Sulforaphane treated group showed normal architecture while that of cyclophosphamides treated group showed features of degenerated and ulcerated lesions of the epithelial lining associated with hemorrhage. Theses lesions markedly decreased in the mucosa of urinary bladder of cyclophosphamides and sulforaphane treated group. Conclusions : The use of sulforaphane reduces the cyclophosphamide toxicity on the urinary bladder in the form of decreased vacuolation with decreased degeneration of the epithelial lining.