Effect of arginine on cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in the rat.

The effect of arginine on the nephrotoxicity produced by cisplatin (6.0 mg/kg i.v.) was investigated in the rat. Intravenous administration of L-arginine at doses of 0.26-2.63 g/kg at the time of cisplatin injection produced significant protection of renal function as evidenced by reductions in plasma urea and creatinine concentrations, decreased polyuria and increases in the plasma clearance of [3H]inulin and [14C]-p aminohippurate. Administration of D-arginine (2.63 g/kg i.v.) also significantly ameliorated the renal dysfunction induced by cisplatin although this protective effect was not as great as produced by the same dose of L-arginine. D-arginine, by contrast to its L-isomer, is reported to have little or no effect on renal haemodynamics. Consequently, the results of this study indicate that the protective effect of L-arginine in cisplatin nephrotoxicity involves both haemodynamic and nonhaemodynamic components.