[Nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides. I: Preventive intraperitoneal calcium administration]

The effect was studied of intraperitoneal intake of calcium on gentamicin nephrotoxicity in the rats. Two groups of Wistar were studied: G--in the first group gentamicin was injected in single daily dose 100 mg/kg b.w. subcutaneously, GCa--in the second group gentamicin was given s.c. and calcium intraperitoneal in single daily dose 45 mg Ca++/kg b.w. Results were evaluated after 3, 7, and 10 days of gentamicin injections and after ten days of gentamicin removal, Mean creatinine level after ten days of gentamicin administration was in G group 4.52 +/- 0.77 mg%, GCa--1.87 +/- 0.21 mg%, p less than 0.02, mean urea 192. 62 +/- 21.88 mg%, 77.09 +/- 8.68 mg%, p less than 0.01, serum calcium 8.39 +/- 0.15 mg%, 9.96 +/- 0.21 mg%, p less than 0.001, gentamicin in the renal cortex 384.68 +/- 67.62 micrograms/g tissue, 327.38 +/- 81.89 micrograms/g tissue p less than 0.05. Urinary calcium excretion was higher in the GCa group than in the group of control rats. Statistical differences were significant after 3 and 7 days of gentamicin intake. Differences were found also in the light and electron microscopic examination.

Intraperitoneal calcium loading significantly reduced the gentamicin nephrotoxicity in the rats and lowered gentamicin level in the renal cortex of the rats.