Comparison of the Species-Sensitive Effects of Different Dosages of Calcium and Verapamil on Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats and Rabbits

AIM: To compare the effects of different dosages of calcium and verapamil on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbits and rats of either sex in weight range of 1.5–2.5 kg and 175–225 g, respectively were used in study. Gentamicin 80 mg/kg i.m., calcium carbonate 0.5 g/kg/day oral, calcium carbonate 1.0 g/kg/day oral, and verapamil 7 mg/kg/day i.m. were administered for 6 days in either species containing 7 groups. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine and, urine protein levels were assessed on day 0 and day 7 for kidney function. The animals were sacrificed on day 7 for histopathplogical examination and kidney superoxide dismutase levels (SOD) were measured. Statistical analysis was done using student's unpaired t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The results showed that calcium was able to reverse significantly increased BUN, serum creatinine, urine protein, and reduced kidney SOD levels in gentamicin-treated nephrotoxic rats or rabbits in a dose-dependent manner while verapamil had no protective or nephrotoxic effect. CONCLUSION: Calcium 0.5 g/kg/day and 1.0 g/kg/day were able to reverse tubular necrosis and mesangial proliferation in gentamicin-treated nephrotoxic animals. There was no species-sensitive variation in reversal of nephrotoxicity by calcium in rats and rabbits.