GENTAMICIN-NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS IS NOT MODIFIED BY VERAPAMIL

To assess whether calcium could be involved in the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, we have studied the effect of the calcium channel bloc ker verapamil on renal function in rats intoxicated by gentamicin. Mal e Wistar rats were divided in three groups. In group I (n = 7) they we re injected with gentamicin 100 mg/kg body wt/day s.c. for 5 days. In group II (n = 6), they received gentamicin and verapamil s.c. 2 mg/rat /day. In group III rats served as control. Plasma creatinine and creat inine clearance were daily measured. Rats treated with gentamicin show ed a progressive increase in plasma creatinine and a drop in creatinin e clearance. No differences between rats treated with gentamicin and t hose with gentamicin plus verapamil were observed. The urinary flow de creased after treatment with gentamicin, this decrease being more mark ed in rats treated with verapamil. No differences in daily urinary sod ium and potassium excretion were found between intoxicated rats treate d or not with verapamil. The present results show that, in rats, verap amil has no protective effect against the neprotoxicity of gentamicin.