Effects of Moringa Extract on Aminoglycoside-Induced Hair Cell Death and Organ of Corti Damage.

HYPOTHESIS: Moringa extract, a naturally occurring anti-oxidant, protects against aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death and hearing loss within the organ of Corti. BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) arise primarily in the mitochondria and have been implicated in aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. Mitochondrial dysfunction results in loss of membrane potential, release of caspases, and cell apoptosis. Moringa extract has not previously been examined as a protective agent for aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. METHODS: Putative otoprotective effects of moringa extract were investigated in an organotypic model using murine organ of Corti explants subjected to gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. Assays evaluated hair cell loss, cytochrome oxidase expression, mitochondrial membrane potential integrity, and caspase activity. RESULTS: In vitro application of moringa conferred significant protection from gentamicin-induced hair cell loss at dosages from 25 to 300 µg/mL, with dosages above 100 µg/mL conferring near complete protection. Assays demonstrated moringa extract suppression of ROS, preservation of cytochrome oxidase activity, and reduction in caspase production. CONCLUSION: Moringa extract demonstrated potent antioxidant properties with significant protection against gentamicin ototoxicity in cochlear explants.

Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats.

HYPOTHESIS: A standardized Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761, may have protective effect against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats. BACKGROUND: Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is a major dose-limiting side effect in anticancer chemotherapy. Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity has been correlated to depletion of the cochlear antioxidant system and increased lipid peroxidation. EGb 761 contains potent antioxidants capable of scavenging free radicals, inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis, reducing lipid peroxidation, and protecting against apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of EGb 761 on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and were treated as follows: 1) vehicle control; 2) cisplatin (13 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) plus vehicle; 3) EGb 761 (200 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); and 4) EGb 761 plus cisplatin. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured pretreatment and 72 hours posttreatment, and threshold shifts were analyzed. Endocochlear potentials (EPs) were also obtained at 72 hours posttreatment. Cochleae were harvested and processed for scanning electron microscopy after completion of auditory testing. RESULTS: Cisplatin-treated rats showed significant ABR threshold shifts across all frequencies (click, and 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-, and 32-kHz tones) compared with each of the other groups (p < 0.001). Rats treated with EGb 761 plus cisplatin did not show significant ABR threshold shifts (p > 0.05). Similarly, the EPs of cisplatin-treated rats were decreased significantly approximately 50% in comparison with the other groups (p < 0.001). The EPs of EGb 761 plus cisplatin-treated rats were decreased less than 20% compared with vehicle control group or the EGb 761 only group (p < 0.01). The scanning electron microscopy observation indicated severe outer hair cell loss in the basal turn of cochleae of cisplatin-treated rats, whereas outer hair cells remained intact in the rats treated with EGb 761 plus cisplatin. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that EGb 761 protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Time response of carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Carboplatin, a second-generation platinum-containing anti-cancer drug, is currently being used against human cancers. High-dose carboplatin chemotherapy can cause renal tubular injury in cancer patients. We have shown a dose-dependent nephrotoxicity of carboplatin in a rat model. However, the time response of carboplatin-induced renal injury has not been explored. This study investigated the time response of carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat. Male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were divided into two groups of 30 animals each and treated as follows: (1) control (saline, intraperitoneally) and (2) carboplatin (256 mg kg(-1), intraperitoneally). The animals (n = 6) from each group were sacrificed 1-5 days after treatment. The blood and kidneys were isolated and analyzed. Plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and blood urea levels were increased significantly in response to carboplatin in a time-dependent manner, indicating potential nephrotoxicity. Carboplatin time-dependently increased the renal platinum concentration, renal xanthine oxidase activity, increased membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA) concentration, while ratio of reduced-to-oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) depleted significantly, indicating oxidative renal injury. Renal anti-oxidant enzymes, such as cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and mitochondrial manganese (Mn)-SOD, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were decreased significantly due to carboplatin 3-5 days post-treatment. The protein expressions of renal CuZn-SOD and Mn-SOD significantly depleted 3-5 days after carboplatin administration, indicating decline in de novo synthesis of enzyme proteins. The data suggested that carboplatin caused time-dependent oxidative renal injury, as evidenced by renal anti-oxidant depletion, enhanced lipid peroxidation, platinum content, plasma creatinine BUN, and blood urea levels in rats.

Glutathione ester but not glutathione protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in a rat model.

Glutathione (GSH) provides an important antioxidant and detoxification pathway. We tested to determine if direct administration of GSH or GSH ester could reduce cisplatin- (CDDP) induced ototoxicity. We tested eight groups of five rats each: a control group, a group receiving 16 mg/kg ip CDDP infused over 30 minutes, and six groups receiving either GSH or GSH ester at 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to 16 mg/kg CDDP. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were measured for click and tone-burst stimuli at baseline and 3 days later. Outer hair cell (OHC) loss was measured for the apical, middle and basal turns. The 500 mg/kg GSH ester reduced hearing loss and OHC loss, but protection decreased as dosage increased, suggesting possible toxicity. GSH was not significantly protective. The best GSH ester protection was less than we have previously reported with D-methionine.

Dose response of carboplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Abstract: Carboplatin, a second-generation platinum-containing anticancer drug, is currently being used against a variety of cancers. High-dose carboplatin chemotherapy can cause renal tubular injury in cancer patients. However, the biochemical mechanism of carboplatin-induced renal injury has not been well studied. This study investigated the dose response of carboplatin-induced changes in endogenous antioxidants, lipid peroxidation and platinum content in rat kidney. Male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were divided into five groups and treated as follows: (1) control (saline, intraperitoneally); (2) carboplatin (64 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); (3) carboplatin (128 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); (4) carboplatin (192 mg/kg, intraperitoneally); and (5) carboplatin (256 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). The animals were sacrificed four days after treatment. The blood and kidneys were isolated and analyzed. Plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels were increased significantly in response to carboplatin in a dose-dependent manner. Renal superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased significantly due to carboplatin at dosages of 128 mg/kg and above. The protein expressions of renal copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase and manganese-superoxide dismutase significantly depleted after carboplatin. Carboplatin (192 and 256 mg/kg) significantly increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde concentration) in rat kidneys. Carboplatin dose-dependently increased the renal platinum concentration, with significance at dosages of 128 mg/kg and above. Carboplatin (256 mg/kg) significantly increased renal xanthine oxidase activity, while ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione depleted significantly. The data suggested that carboplatin caused dose-dependent oxidative renal injury, as evidenced by renal antioxidant depletion, enhanced lipid peroxidation, platinum content, plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels in rats.