Abstract: This paper investigated the protective effect of carnosine on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced acute nephrotoxicity in KM mice and the possible plausible mechanism. Forty female KM mice were classified into four groups by weight: control group, carnosine group, CDDP modal group and carnosine prevention group. Normal group and carnosine group were given saline and carnosine intraperitoneally, once daily for 10 days; CDDP modal group was given CDDP intraperitoneally, single dose at the 5th day; carnosine prevention group was given carnosine intraperitoneally, once dialy for 10 days and single dose of cisplatin at the 5th day. All animals were decapitated at the 10th day, blood serum was collected and analyzed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE), the kidney samples were stored for the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the renal morphology changes by hematoxylin-eosin (HE)staining. As a result, the contents of serum BUN, CRE and kidney tissue MDA in the CDDP group increase significantly, while the contents of kidney tissue GSH and SOD decrease strikingly, severe morphology changes is clearly seen. The carnosine prevention group can effectively improve this phenomenon. In conclusion, carnosine can attenuate CDDP-induced acute nephrotoxicity, and the mechanism may be closely involved in antioxidation and scavenging of free radicals.

Key words: carnosine, acute nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress, cisplatin, carnosine, acute nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress