Objective: Doxorubicin is an antracycline that have similar nephrotoxic effects in both animal and human studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of benfotiamine on kidney tissues of the rats treated with doxorubicin.

Material and Method: 24 wistar albino male rats were used in this study. Animals were divided to 4 equel groups. During the 14 day experiment period, control group did not receive any medication. 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal (i.p) doxorubicin was administered to Doxorubicin group. In Doxorubicin+benfotiamine group; in addition to 10 mg/kg i.p single dose doxorubicin, 70 mg/kg benfotiamine was administered. Benfotiamine group received 70 mg/kg benfotiamine. At the end of the experiment, rats were decapitated and kidney tissues were removed. Tissues were embedded into parafine blocks with routine follow-up. Avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was applied to the sections obtained from bloks for Bax and caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured by spectrophometer.

Results: Bax and caspase-3 immunoreactivities were in +1 prevalence in control and benfotiamine groups. In doxorubicin group, bax and caspase-3 immunoreactivity was increased in +3 prevalence in comparison with control group. In doxorubicin + benfotiamine group,-- bax and caspase-3 immunoreactivity was decreased to +2 prevalence in comparison with Doxorubicin group.-- In doxorubicin group,kidney tissue MDA levels were increased significantly in comparison with control and benfotiamine groups. MDA levels of Doxorubicin+benfotiamine group decreased significantly in comparison with Doxorubicin group.

Conclusion: In this study we observed that doxorubicin induces apoptosis in kidney tissues and benfotiamine have anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects against Doxorubicin effects.