Effects of gentamicin on renal function in isolated perfused kidneys from male and female rats

The isolated perfused rat kidney was used to determine whether sex differences in gentamicin nephrotoxicity are related to intrinsic differences in renal response to gentamicin. Acute exposure to gentamicin decreased fractional reabsorption of water and electrolytes without changes in glomerular filtration rate in both sexes. Gentamicin decreased the tubular reabsorption of lysozyme but not glomerular permeability to lysozyme. No sex differences in renal responses were observed following in vitro exposures to gentamicin, suggesting that sex differences in susceptibility to gentamicin in vivo may be attributable to extrarenal factors, such as pharmacokinetics.