EX-VIVO STUDY ON ATPASE ACTIVITIES OF RABBIT RENAL PROXIMAL TUBULES AS A PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR NEPHROTOXICITY - COMPARISON WITH AN IN-VITRO STUDY ON A NEW CEPHALOSPORIN (CEFPIROME)

An ex vivo study on adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities of ra bbit renal proximal tubules was conducted with a new cephalosporin, ce fpirome (HR 810), a positive control, cephaloridine, and a reference t hird-generation cephalosporin, cefotaxime. Compared with controls, CPH caused a significant time-dependent decrease in ATPase activities [12 %, 2 hr after treatment (P < 0.01) and 75%, 48 hr after treatment (P < 0.001)]. This decrease was accompanied by a significant loss in the e nergy charge of the adenylate pool [27%, 2 hr after treatment (P < 0.0 01)]. Neither cefotaxime nor cefpirome caused such decreases. The resu lts confirmed those of a previously published in vitro study. The adva ntages and disadvantages of these two experimental procedures as predi ctive models for nephrotoxicity are discussed.