Protective role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor against adriamycin induced cardiac, renal and hepatic toxicities

Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, ADR, ADR + phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and ADR + G-CSF group (n = 16 in each group). ADR was administered intraperitoneally every other day at the dose of 2.5 μg/kg each time per rat (total six times of injection during 2 weeks). Rats in the ADR + G-CSF group were injected subcutaneously with G-CSF at the dose of 50 μg/(kg day) (for 8 consecutive days). After 8 weeks, the serum and urine biochemistry variables were determined. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the glutathione (GSH) content in the heart, the liver and the kidney tissues were measured. ADR caused significant cardiac, renal and hepatic toxicities indicated by the serum and urine biochemistry variables. The tissue MDA level in the heart, kidney and liver in rats treated with ADR were markedly elevated, while the GSH content in these tissues were significantly reduced. G-CSF administration palliated the cardiac, renal and hepatic toxicities. Notably, G-CSF induced significant reduction of MDA level and increase of GSH content in the heart, kidney and liver tissues. This study suggests that G-CSF play an overall protective effect on ADR-induced toxicities in heart, liver and kidneys and the inhibition of tissue peroxidative alterations might contribute to this beneficial effect.