Renal tubular necrosis following cephalothin.

Renal tubular necrosis was observed following intramuscular injections of cephalothin into rats. Lesions were consistently produced with 5.0g/kg and were maximal in severity at the 2nd and 3rd days following injection. Renal tubular necrosis following cephalothin was similar in morphology to that produced by nephrotoxic doses (2.0 g/kg) of cephaloridine. The nephrotoxic potential of cephalothin has been demonstrated in the rat model and caution is urged in using large doses of cephalothin.