Lysosomal modifications in human proximal tubule induced by aminoglycoside treatment: visualisation by light microscopical cytochemistry.

In cryostat sections of kidney biopsies, lysosomes were visualized for light microscopy by staining for acid phosphatase. Twenty patients treated with the antibiotics gentamycin, tobramycin, amikacin or netelmicin during four days were compared to ten untreated control biopsies. Because of the marked heterogeneity of enzyme reaction product through the nephron, the most strongly stained tubular sections were used for comparison. With the exception of one biopsy, all treated kidneys display heavier staining than all controls; the difference is significant. Biochemical assays of acid phosphatase activity in homogenates have not revealed this difference. The cytochemical method may be used to detect early alterations caused by nephrotoxic drugs.