Toxicology 1983 May;27(1):15-25

Gentamicin nephrotoxicity in cadmium, lead and mercury pretreated rats.

Viau C, Bernard A, Lauwerys RR, Tulkens P, Laurent G, Maldague P

The effect of a previous chronic exposure to cadmium, lead or inorganic mercury
on the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin was investigated in female
Sprague-Dawley rats. A daily dose of 10 mg gentamicin/kg body weight/day was
administered for 21 days to rats having a renal load of 168 micrograms Cd, 35
micrograms Pb or 129 micrograms Hg/g whole kidney. Urine analysis suggests an
attenuation of the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin while a microscopical
examination of kidneys indicates a superimposition of the effects of the metals
and the antibiotics. The only clear interaction observed consists in a reduction
of gentamicin accumulation in the cortex of cadmium-treated animals. It is
concluded that none of the metal pretreatments potentiates the nephrotoxic
effects of gentamicin.

PMID: 6437016, UI: 85041262