The effect of gentamicin nephrotoxicity on the status of some essential metals in tissues, plasma, and urine of rats

The present work examines the effect of treating rats with gentamicin at nephrotoxic doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day for 6 days on the concentrations of some essential metals (Ca, Zn, Cu, Mg, Fe and Mn) in liver, kidney cortex, plasma and urine. The concentrations of these metals in the feed of the animals was also measured. Gentamicin (100mg/kg) reduced the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Mg Fe and Mn in the kidney, and Mg and Mn in the liver. In plasma, gentamicin (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly increased the concentrations of Ca and Cu, and reduced that of Zn and Mg. In addition, the urinary output of Ca, Cu and Fe were significantly increased, and Zn and Mn were significantly decreased by gentamicin treatment (100mg/kg). The levels of measured metals in feed were found to be within the recommended dietary allowances. On the whole, gentamicin produced mostly reductions in the levels of the measured metals in the kidney probably because of cell necrosis induced by the drug These was no consistent or marked effect of the drug on the status of the metals in plasma and urine making the measurement of these metals, unsuitable as clinically useful indicators of gentamicin nephrotoxicity.