title: Nephrotoxicity of gentamicin and co-trimoxazole combination in rats.
abstract: 1. The nephrotoxicity of gentamicin is well known. However, little information is available regarding the combined effects of gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Therefore, Wistar rats were treated daily with 100 mg/kg gentamicin or 100 mg/kg gentamicin plus 30 mg/kg trimethoprim-150 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole for 14 days. 2. Serum biochemical parameters were measured on days 0, 8 and 15, and histopathological examinations of kidneys were performed on day 15, one day following end of treatment. Gentamicin treated rats exhibited a 63% increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a 124% increase in uric acid, and a 63% decrease in serum potassium levels on day 15. 3. The combination of gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole partially ameliorated these effects. With the three drug combination no change occurred in BUN, and only a 30% decrease occurred in serum potassium levels. 4. While serum creatinine levels significantly increased following gentamicin, the co-administration of co-trimoxazole resulted in a significant decrease (30%) in creatinine. Histopathological examinations of kidneys suggested a lower degree of nephrotoxicity in rats treated with gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole as compared to animals treated with gentamicin alone. 5. The results support the importance of monitoring serum biochemical parameters when treating with gentamicin or gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Izzettin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ayça
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uras
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cevikbaş
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yardimci
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stohs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000633:toxicity*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000633:toxicity; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D014527:Uric Acid; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D011188:Potassium