protective role of vitamin e on methotrexate induced renal injury in rabbits

background and aims: methotrexate (mtx), a folic acid antagonist, is widely used as a treatment for malignancies as well as in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. nephrotoxicity is an important side-effect of this drug. prevention and treatment of mtx-induced renal dysfunction are essential to prevent potentially life-threatening mtx-associated toxicities, present study was undertaken to determine whether vitamin e could ameliorate methotrexate-induced oxidative renal injury in rabbit.   materials and methods: twenty eight rabbits were randomly assigned into four groups (n=7): group 1 (control group), group 2 (received 20mg/kg mtx): group 3 (received mtx plus vitamin e 100 mg/kg orally), group 4: (vitamin e 100 mg/kg orally). on 6 th day rabbits were anesthetized and renal tissue sampled for pathologic and biochemical assessment.   results:   data showed that renal tissue injury index and malondialdehyde (mda)level were lower in mtx+vitamin e group comparing to mtx group significantly (p<0.05). renal tissue injury index and mda were higher in mtx+vitamin e group comparing to control group significantly (p<0.05). conclusion: these findings suggest that vitamin e, by improving cellular anti-oxidant defense system, reduction in lipid peroxidation production and tissue damage, appears to have a protective role in the mtx-induced oxidative injury in renal tissue, however, further studies are essential to elucidate the exact mechanisms of mtx-induced renal toxicity, and protective effect of vitamin e.