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The possibility of a slow, longer term deterioration in renal function following the administration of cisplatin has been little studied in animal models. To obtain data on this we have examined renal function and histopathology at 30 days post i.p. cisplatin (5 mg/kg) treatment in female Wistar rats with and without the administration of hydroxyl-containing dithiocarbamates as a protective measure. In contrast to the studies terminated at shorter times, the degree of protection furnished by the use of dithiocarbamates at longer times post-treatment is less impressive. Results suggest that a continuing deterioration in renal function occurs at times greater than 1 week post-treatment when such dithiocarbamates are administered at 1 and 3 h post cisplatin. This was evidenced in both several measures of renal function and in the histopathology of the S3 segment of the proximal tubule.

Two hydroxyl containing dithiocarbamates, sodium N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NaG) and sodium dihydroxyethyl dithiocarbamate (NaY) have been examined as agents for the control of the renal dysfunction in rats given cisplatin. Of these, NaG was found to be the more effective in controlling such renal dysfunction when administered at 1 and 3 h after 5 mg cisplatin kg-1, i.p. Renal function was examined 5 days after the administration of cisplatin by measurement of serum and urinary levels of creatinine and urea, creatinine clearance, serum and urinary levels of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, as well as the concentrations of these ions in the renal medulla and cortex. Treatment of rats given cisplatin with NaG at 1 and 3 h post cisplatin resulted in indices of renal function which were not significantly different from those of animals which had received no cisplatin. The sole difference was found to be a slight increase in renal cortical Na+ concentration.