Investigation of the protective effect of selenium supplementation on renal function in cisplatin-administered rats

Abstract

Purpose: Selenium is an important antioxidant and anticarcinogen with the ability to protect cells from oxidative stress, a significant marker of cisplatin-induced toxicity. This study aimed to reveal the effect of selenium on free radicals in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by examining changes in creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and galectin-3, which are associated with kidney damage. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats, aged 60 days, were equally divided into four groups: control, cisplatin, selenium, and cisplatin+selenium. The experiment started on the 39th day after the rats were born. Controls were intraperitoneally administered a single dose of physiological saline. Rats in the selenium and cisplatin+selenium groups were administered 1 mg/kg of selenium by gastric gavage per day for 21 days. The rats in the cisplatin and cisplatin+selenium groups were intraperitoneally administered 7.5 mg/kg of cisplatin on the 57th day. The experiment was terminated 3 days after single-dose administration. Tissue samples were analyzed using the ICP-MS method for selenium, the biochemical method for plasma creatinine, and the ELISA method for NGAL and galectin-3. Results: Kidney tissue selenium levels were significantly higher in the selenium-supplemented groups (control;146.8 ± 10.8 ng/dl, selenium;520.2 ± 31.2 ng/dl, cisplatin;140 ± 6.4 ng/dl; cisplatin + selenium; 363.4 ± 33.6 ng/dl). Plasma creatinine levels were statistically significantly higher in the cisplatin-administered groups (control; 0.32 ± 0.01 mg/dl, selenium; 0.32 ± 0.01 mg/dl, cisplatin; 0.47 ± 0.02 mg/dl; cisplatin + selenium; 0.45 ± 0.04). There was no difference in kidney tissue NGAL levels; however, galectin-3 levels were significantly increased in the cisplatin group compared with the other groups. This increase was lower in the cisplatin+selenium group than in the cisplatin group. Heart tissue NGAL and galectin-3 levels were higher in the cisplatin group. Conclusion: Selenium supplementation may have a healing effect on the nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity caused by cisplatin, as indicated by changes in creatinine, NGAL, and galectin-3 levels.