Cisplatin is an
antineoplastic drug well recognized for its success in the battle against several types of
cancer in adult, juvenile, and child populations. Meanwhile, this drug is also famous due to its serious side effects, such as hepatotoxicity. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effectiveness of
Diphenyl Diselenide (PhSe)2 and
Ebselen in a model of
cisplatin-induced toxicity in juvenile rats. Juvenile Wistar rats received a single intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of
cisplatin (6 mg/kg) or
saline solution, at postnatal day (PND) 21.
Ebselen (11 mg/kg) or (PhSe)2 (12 mg/kg) was intragastrically (i.g) administered in rats from PND 21 to PND 25. At PND 26, the blood and liver were collected for the biochemistry assays. A single administration of
cisplatin was enough to alter the makers of hepatic function (an increase of AST activity) and the blood
lipid profile (an increase of
cholesterol and
triglycerides, TG). The
cisplatin-induced metabolic disruption was demonstrated by the increase of
hepatic glycogen and TG contents and
hexokinase,
glucose-6-phosphatase, and
tyrosine aminotransferase activities; a decrease of
citrate synthase activity and the levels of GLUT-2.
Cisplatin-induced hepatic oxidative stress was characterized by an increase in
reactive oxygen species,
TBARS,
protein carbonyl, and Nox levels as well as the decrease in NPSH levels.
Ebselen and (PhSe)2 were effective against all alterations caused by this
chemotherapy medication. The present findings highlight the (PhSe)2 and
Ebselen similar hepatoprotective effectiveness against
cisplatin-induced disruption of metabolic homeostasis and redox balance in juvenile rats.