AMELIORATION OF GENTAMICIN-NEPHROTOXICITY BY PHOSPHOLIPIDS

The effect of phospholipids on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Group la (5 rats) were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 100 mg/kg of gentamicin and sacrificed on day 7. Group 1b (10 rats) were similarly treated but were sacrificed on day 14. Group 2a (5 rats) were given 30 mg/kg of phospholipids for 6 days and sacrificed on day 7, serving as phospholipid controls. Group 2b (5 rats) were similarly treated, and from day 7 onwards daily intraperitoneal injections of 100 mg/kg of gentamicin were given while oral phospholipids were continued until the rats were sacrificed 7 days after gentamicin treatment. Group 2c (10 rats) were treated in the same manner as group 2b but the animals were sacrificed on day 28 after gentamicin treatment. Group 3 (10 rats) were given 30 mg/kg of phospholipids concurrently with intraperitoneal gentamicin injections and were sacrificed on day 28. Protein concentrations, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities and creatinine were measured in 24-h urine samples. Serum creatinine concentrations were measured in blood samples and 24-h creatinine clearance calculated. Gentamicin concentrations were determined in kidney tissues from which sections were also taken for light- and electron-microscopy. Results showed that gentamicin induced a marked increase in NAG and protein excretion, and a marked decrease in creatinine clearance with six rats succumbing to uraemia. Phospholipid treatment, whether started before or concurrently with gentamicin injections, reduced gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. The rats did not lose weight. Urinary excretion of NAG and protein was significantly reduced. Serum creatinine concentrations were not increased to the same extent and there were less myelin figures in cytosegregosomes on electron-microscopy. Gentamicin concentrations in kidney tissues, however, were not altered by the administration of phospholipids.