The in vivo and in vitro comparative nephrotoxicity of cefazolin and gentamicin.

Biochemical, histopathological and cell culture evaluations compared the nephrotoxicity of cefazolin with that of gentamicin. New Zealand rabbits were dosed with 250 mg cefazolin/animal i.m. twice daily, 3 mg gentamicin/kg i.m. twice daily, or 0.9% NaCl solution for 10 d. The rabbits in drug-treated groups had necrosis of proximal kidney tubules and elevated urinary-gamma glutamyl transferase (uGGT) levels. The results of the histopathological examinations, uGGT analyses and effects in cell culture indicated the nephrotoxicities of both antibiotics were similar.