Background: Cisplatin is a potent antineoplastic agent widely used for a variety of malignancies. However, it has many complications such as neuropathy and cachexia. Ghrelin is a recently discovered hormone with a potent orexigenic and neuroprotective properties that may prevent or reduce these complications. Objective: This present study designed to determine the effectiveness of ghrelin administration as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the submandibular glands of rats. Design: Twenty –four adult male Sprague Dawley rats, were divided into three groups (n=8). Group (I) rats were received ghrelin 0.8 mg/kg twice daily for 14 day. Group (II) rats were received three doses cisplatin 0.5 mg /kg given daily. Group (III) rats were received cisplatin and ghrelin in dose as in group I, II. Daily measurement of body weight and blood glucose level. After 14 days, animals were scarified and the submandibular glands were removed and the prepared sections were examined histologically by H&E and immunohistochemical stain for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Results: Ghrelin administration in parallel with cisplatin-based chemotherapy were markedly stimulate appetite, with improvement of body weight and blood glucose level. Histological assessment revealed that ghrelin hormone reduce necrotic changes induced by chemotherapy. Conclusions: Exogenous ghrelin markedly increase food intake and general nutritional health and also improve the induced cytotoxic changes during chemotherapy.
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