GENTAMICIN-NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS IS NOT MODIFIED BY VERAPAMIL

To assess whether calcium could be involved in the gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity, we have studied the effect of the calcium channel blocker verapamil on renal function in rats intoxicated by gentamicin. Male Wistar rats were divided in three groups. In group I (n = 7) they were injected with gentamicin 100 mg/kg body wt/day s.c. for 5 days. In group II (n = 6), they received gentamicin and verapamil s.c. 2 mg/rat/day. In group III rats served as control. Plasma creatinine and creatinine clearance were daily measured. Rats treated with gentamicin showed a progressive increase in plasma creatinine and a drop in creatinine clearance. No differences between rats treated with gentamicin and those with gentamicin plus verapamil were observed. The urinary flow decreased after treatment with gentamicin, this decrease being more marked in rats treated with verapamil. No differences in daily urinary sodium and potassium excretion were found between intoxicated rats treated or not with verapamil. The present results show that, in rats, verapamil has no protective effect against the neprotoxicity of gentamicin.