Background/aim: Cisplatin is an anticancer drug that can induce nephrotoxicity. Its toxicity is associated with dyslipidemia and disturbed electrolyte balance. In the present study we investigated the changes in serum lipid profile and electrolyte levels and their contents in kidney and liver tissues of rabbits treated with cisplatin. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight adult male New Zealand White rabbits were used in the experiment. Animals of groups C, P1, and P2 were injected with saline, cisplatin (4.0 mg/kg bw), and cisplatin (6.5 mg/kg bw), respectively, and killed 3 days after the injections. Animals of group R were given cisplatin (6.5 mg/kg bw) and killed after 7 days. All animals were killed after an overnight fast. Results: The P2 animals showed reductions in their body weights, significant (P < 0.001) increases in serum creatinine and urea levels, and significant (P < 0.001) drops in cortical alkaline phosphatase activity and necrotic kidney histology. The treatments had no effect on liver function. Moreover, the P2 animals showed increased serum cholesterol, TAG, and elevated LDL-cholesterol, with significant accumulations of the kidney cholesterol and TAG, but no change in serum phospholipid and depleted hepatic cholesterol. Moreover, the P2 animals had depressed serum levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and reduced renal cortical calcium and magnesium contents and depressed liver calcium but not magnesium. However, the P1 animals had no significant alterations in their lipid or electrolyte levels. Most of the perturbed parameters returned to normal levels in the recovery group. Conclusion: Cisplatin nephrotoxicity in rabbits is accompanied by reductions in body weight, secondary dyslipidemia, and reduced serum potassium, calcium, and magnesium with depleted renal cortical magnesium and calcium and accumulated cortical lipids.