ABSTRACT
Cisplatin; myelotoxicity is a major limiting factor in tile treatment of several neoplasms. Vitamin E, a slow acting free radical scavenger, has been shown to ameliorate nephro, oto and neurotoxicities in animals receiving cisplatin. The purpose of this study is a trial to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin E as a myeloprotectant. Twenty five adult male albino wistar rats weight [200-250 gm] were used in this experiment. The experimental animals were divided into three groups [A1B1C]. Group [A]: was kept as control. Group [B]: treated with cisplatinum twice weekly for one month by intraperitoneal injection in a dose of 4 mg/kg. Group [C]: treated with vitamin E in a dose of 100 mg/kg by intramuscular injection concomitant with cisplatin twice weekly for one month. Samples were taken from bone marrow and processed for light and electron microscopic studies. The light microscopic examination of cisplatin treated bone marrow speciemens showed accumulation of large number of both fat and mast cells while in vitamin E treated group, there was a reduction in the percentage of both type of cells but not significantly. By electron microscopic examination, the most striking effect of cisplatin on bone marrow was evidenced by the marked increase in the number of dark degenerated cells in comparison to that of control. On the other hand, a maximal reduction in the number of these degenerated cells was observed in vitamin E treated bone marrow speciemens in comparison to group [B]. The percentage of eosinophil was increased significant in vitamin E treated group. By this work, vitamin E, a free radical scavenger, appears to have a protective role against cytogenic toxicity of cisplatin on bone marrow