OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is well known, and the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin restricts its clinical application. Currently, there are no drugs are recommended for the prevention of cisplatin-induced AKI. Forced hydration and diuresis may partially prevent nephrotoxicity of cisplatin, but it is still difficult to entirely prevent kidney injury. Thus, establishment of a new preventive method against cisplatin-induced AKI is required. Therefore, in this study, the purpose of this study was to clarify the efficacy of sodium valproate in cisplatin-induced AKI.

METHODS: In order to establish cisplatin‐induced AKI animal model, C57BL/6 mice were administered with either cisplatin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (control). The degree of renal damage was assessed by various renal function parameters and pathological evaluation. The effect of sodium valproate on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity was evaluated using HK2 cells, MKN-1 cells and LLC cells.

RESULTS: Cisplatin treatment worsened various renal function parameters and tubular damage scores, which were significantly improved by co-treatment with sodium valproate. The decrease in cell viability of HK2 cells by cisplatin was significantly improved by co-treatment with sodium valproate. On the other hand, sodium valproate had no adverse effect on the reduction of cell viability of various cancer cells by cisplatin.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that sodium valproate could act as a potential preventive drug for cisplatin-induced AKI.