Protective effect of erdosteine on cyclosporine induced chronic nephrotoxicity in rats

Cyclosporine (CsA) is a clinically used immunosuppressive agent; but nephrotoxicity is a serious side effect of this drug. Some antioxidants may be used to diminish oxidative stress related to cyclosporine. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of erdosteine on CsA induced chronic nephrotoxicity. We assessed oxidative stress enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSHPx, MDA, NO and PC levels) and light microscopic changes before and after erdosteine treatment in damaged kidney. The rats were assigned randomly to one to four groups. These were: control group (n = 8), CsA group (15 mg/kg day, n = 8), erdosteine treated group (10 mg/kg day orally, n = 8) and CsA + erdosteine group (n = 8). CsA nephrotoxicity was induced by administrating oral dose of 15 mg/kg CsA daily for 21 days. We observed that the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) were higher and MDA, NO activities were lower in CsA plus erdosteine group than in CsA group. Histological parameters significantly improved after erdosteine treatment. Erdosteine does seem to have a protective effect on CsA nephrotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress.