Reproductive Biology Insights

Study Objective: Chemical protection against cisplatin, which is a commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic agent, is not well defined. We tested the hypothesis that the antioxidant mesna might protect against the cisplatin-induced repoductive effects in female rats.

Design & Setting: Adult female rats were injected with saline, cisplatin alone, or mesna + cisplatin, mated with males, and euthanized on gestational day 17.

Patients: Animal Model.

Interventions: The administration of either cisplatin or mesna + cisplatin (two injections one week apart, mesna 30 minute pretreatment) followed by mating one week after treatment.

Main Outcomes Measured: The number corpora lutea, implantation and resorptions sites, viable and non-viable fetuses, fetal weights, and the level of progesterone per corpus luteum.

Results: The administration of cisplatin caused an increase in pre- and post- implantation loss, an increase in the number of resorptions and a decrease in the number of viable fetuses. Mesna administered prior to cisplatin resulted in a decrease in the rate of the pre- and post implantation loss, along with a decrease in the number of resorptions and an increase in the number of live fetuses.

Conclusions: Prior exposure to cisplatin caused significant adverse effects on fertility as evidenced by the decreased implantation due to increased fetal loss. The administration of mesna appeared to temper cisplatin damage by lessening the cisplatin effects on fetal resorption.