Aim:

The present study aimed to examine the effect of paricalcitol (PRC) and vitamin D₃ (vit D₃) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Materials and Methods:

Forty-two Wistar rats were randomly categorized into six groups: control; 2) PRC(0.5 µg/kg) and 3) vit D₃(5.000 IU/kg) administered for 14 days; 4) DOX, 18 mg/kg administered on the 12th, 13th and 14th days of the study; 5) PRC (0.5 µg/kg, +DOX(18 mg/kg); vit D₃₍5.000 IU)+DOX(18 mg/kg). On the 15th day of the experiment, ^99mTc-DMSA uptake level and biochemical parameter in serum and tissue were assay.

Results:

Activities of ^99mTechnetium-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (^99mTc-DMSA) were lower in groups receiving DOX and/or PRC+DOX, vit D₃+DOX than in control groups. The ^99mTc-DMSA level in the group PRC+DOX and vit D₃+DOX were importantly higher than DOX group. DOX caused an important increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α(TNF- α), interleukin-6(IL-6) and nitric oxide(NO) levels compared to control groups. However, PRC and vit D₃ pretreatments lowered them. Uptake of ^99mTc-DMSA level was higher in groups PRC+DOX than in vit D₃+DOX group. Administration of PRC and vit D₃ alone did not change alterations all of parameters.

Conclusion:

The results indicated that PRC administration protects kidney in DOX-induced nephrotoxic rats. In addition, PRC has a stronger nephroprotective effect than vit D₃.