Abstract

Background: Calcium homeostasis is considered to be important in antineoplastic as well as in neurotoxic adverse effects of cisplatin. 

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the role of Ca2+ in cisplatin neurotoxicity in cultured rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells. 

Study Design: Cell culture study.

Methods: DRG cells prepared from 1-day old Sprague-Dawley rats were used to determine the role of Ca2+ in the cisplatin (10-600 μM) neurotoxicity. The cells were incubated with cisplatin plus nimodipine (1-3 μM), dizocilpine (MK-801) (1-3 μM) or thapsigargin (100-300 nM). Toxicity of cisplatinon DRG cells was determined by the MTT assay. 

Results: The neurotoxicity of cisplatin was significant when used in high concentrations (100-600 μM). Nimodipine (1 μM) but not MK-801 or thapsigargin prevented the neurotoxic effects of 200 μM of cisplatin. 

Conclusion: Voltage-dependent calcium channels may play a role in cisplatin neurotoxicity.