Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a frequently used
immunosuppressive agent in transplant medicine to prevent rejection and in the treatment of
autoimmune diseases. However, CsA generates
reactive oxygen species, which causes nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and
cardiotoxicity. The use of
antioxidants reduces the adverse effects of CsA. The aim of this study is to determine the protective effects of
erdosteine on CsA-induced
heart injury through tissue
oxidant/
antioxidant parameters and light microscopic evaluation in rats. CsA
cardiotoxicity was induced by administrating an oral dose of 15mg/kg CsA daily for 21 days. The rats were divided into four groups: control group (n=4), CsA administrated group (15mg/kg, n=5), CsA+erdosteine administrated group (10mg/kg day orally
erdosteine, n=4) and only
erdosteine administrated group (10mg/kg day orally n=5). CsA treated rats showed increase in the number of infiltrated cells and disorganization of myocardial fibers with interstitial
fibrosis. The number of infiltrated cells, disorganization of myocardial fibers and interstitial
fibrosis was diminished in the hearts of CsA-treated rats given
erdosteine. The
malondialdehyde, the
protein carbonyl content and
nitric oxide levels were increased in the
cyclosporine A group in comparison with the control and CsA plus
erdosteine groups. The activities of
superoxide dismutase (SOD),
catalase (CAT) and
glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were higher in CsA plus
erdosteine group than CsA group. However, the CAT, GSH-Px and SOD activities were significantly lower in CsA group than in control group and
erdosteine group. These results suggest that
erdosteine has protective effect against CsA-induced
cardiotoxicity.