[Effects of gentamycin on the fetal kidneys]

Gentamycin was given in 24 women during termination of mid-trimester pregnancy. The concentration of gentamycin in the blood of pregnant women, umbilical cords and in tissue of placenta, fetal kidneys were determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassays, and the morphological changes of fetal kidneys were investigated as well. The results indicated that the concentration of gentamycin in circulation of pregnant women was not significantly different from that of the umbilical cords (P greater than 0.05), but in tissue of fetal kidneys gentamycin concentration was remarkably higher than that in placenta (P less than 0.05). The following pathological findings of fetal kidneys were seen: marked congestion in glomeruli, cloudy swelling in the proximal tubules, reduced cilial cells and granular degeneration in epithelium. All these have shown that the placenta did not act as a barrier on gentamycin. It should be noted that while gentamycin in therapeutic dosage was given to pregnant women, it would be accumulated in fetal kidneys and caused damage.