Peripheral neurotoxic effects of cisplatin on rats and treatment with rutin

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin, used in cancer treatment, has toxic and apoptotic effects on the peripheral nervous system. Rutin, also known as vitamin P, has antioxidant and antiapoptotic activity. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biochemical and histopathologic efficacy of rutin on neurotoxic and apoptotic effects caused by cisplatin in the peripheral nervous system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four albino Wistar male rats were divided into the following 4 groups: control group (CG), only cisplatin-injected group (CIS), cisplatin and rutin 50 mg/kg (RG-50)-injected group, and cisplatin and rutin 100 mg/kg (RG-100)-injected group. Analyses were performed on sciatic nerve tissue of experimental animals. Analyses of malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), glutathione reductase (GSHRd), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were performed. Caspase-3 expression in nerve tissue was also investigated. The analyzed groups were compared with CG. RESULTS: Biochemical investigation shows that there is a statistically significant difference between CG and only CIS and RG-50. Control group and RG-100 were found to be similar. Cisplatin-induced changes were observed in histopathological analysis of the nerve tissue. The RG-100 and CG were found to be similar. The caspase-3 expression in the neural tissue was compared between groups. Control group and CIS were found to be different. Control group and RG-100 were found to be similar. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant and antiapoptotic effectiveness of rutin was detected against the toxic effects caused by cisplatin in the peripheral nerve tissue.