1. The effect of the methylxanthine aminophylline on cisplatin (5 mg kg-1 i.v.)-induced acute renal failure was investigated in the rat. Renal function was measured 5 days after cisplatin administration. 2. Cisplatin caused a polyuric acute renal failure. The creatinine clearance was significantly reduced. 3. Aminophylline (24 mg kg-1 12h-1) ameliorated the cisplatin nephrotoxicity when administered during the maintenance phase of acute tubular necrosis. However, it had no effect when only administered prophylactically before the cisplatin application. 4. Enprofylline (20 mg kg-1 4h-1 with dose adjustment), a methylxanthine lacking adenosine receptor antagonism in comparison to aminophylline, had no protective effect on cisplatin nephrotoxicity. 5. Adenosine is a renal vasoconstrictor and decreases glomerular filtration rate. Endogenous adenosine in the kidney is formed by degradation of ATP and is thought to be involved in various forms of acute renal failure. The results suggest that adenosine may be involved in the haemodynamic changes in the kidney induced by cisplatin.
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