RESUMEN
The effect of the iron chelator, deferoxamine, on gentamicin- induced acute renal failure was examined in albino rats. Rats treated with gentamicin alone [100 mg/kg body weight/day by subcutaneous route for 8 consecutive days] developed acute renal failure [plasma urea 171.2 +/- 34.5 mg/dl and creatinine 3.11 +/- 0.53 mg/dl] compared with saline treated controls [plasma urea 39 +/- 13.7 and creatinine 0.26 +/- 0.1 ms/dl]. In contrast, rats treated with gentamicin and deferoxamine [100 mg/kg body weight/day by intraperitoneal route in 2 divided doses] had significantly lower plasma urea and creatinine levels [62.2 +/- 16.3 mg/dl and 0.72 +/- 0.21 mg/dl, respectively] compared with gentamicin only-treated rats. In addition, malondialdehyde content in renal cortical tissue was significantly lower in rats treated with gentamicin plus deferoxamine [2.05 +/- 0.12 nmol/mg protein] when compared with gentamicin only-treated rats [3.7 +/- 0.27 nmol/mg protein]