Effect of interaction between gentamicin and pyridoxal-5-phosphate on functional and metabolic parameters in kidneys of female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of genatmicin at a dose of 70 mg/kg for 11 days produced nephrotoxicity in female Sprague-Dawley rats as evidenced by increased excretion of urinary protein and trypsin inhibitory activity as well as rise in renal individual class and total phospholipid. The observed proteinuria was associated with a significant twofold fall in creatinine clearance and histopathological changes, including the presence of hyaline casts and flattened epithelial cells within the lumen of proximal convoluted tubules. Although pyridoxal-5-phosphate (50 mg/kg) administered i.p. did not significantly alter creatinine clearance, histopathology, proteinuria, and urinary trypsin inhibitory activity, an increase in individual class and total phospholipid was noted in kidney. In rats simultaneously administered gentamicin and pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the observed fall in renal gentamicin content was associated with a return of individual class and total phospholipid to control values. However, the decline in creatinine clearance, enhanced proteinuria, and increase in urinary trypsin inhibitory activity in the simultaneous-treated group was similar or greater than that seen in the gentamicin-only injected rats. Morphological examination of simultaneous-treated rats revealed extensive alterations in proximal tubules including numerous mitotic figures, large vesicular nucleii, and prominent nucleoli in epithelial cells as well as hyaline casts within the lumen. Our data combined with results of previous studies suggest that sex and type of rat strain are important factors in aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity. It is evident that a specific concentration of pyridoxal-5-phosphate may be necessary to provide protection against all manifestations of aminoglycoside-induced renal damage.