Effect of fish oil treatment on gentamicin nephrotoxicity in rats.

The effect of fish oil on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in rats. Gentamicin (80 mg/kg/day intramuscularly for 6 days) produced the typical pattern of nephrotoxicity as shown by increases in serum creatinine and urea concentrations, and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity and proximal renal tubular necrosis. Fish oil (5.0 ml/kg/kday per os for 10 days) partially protected against the nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin administered during the last 6 days of treatment with fish oil by returning the creatinine and urea concentrations and NAG activity to normal and by ameliorating the histopathological damage. Olive oil (5 mg/kg/day per os for 10 days) was ineffective in protecting rats against gentamicin nephrotoxicity.