Determination of the effects of ciprofloxacin in prevention of aminoglycoside induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

The effect of ciprofloxacin on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was evaluated in rabbits. Animals were injected for 15 days with saline [NaCI; 0.9%], gentamicin alone at doses of 20 mg/kg of body weight/12 h [intramuscularly] and the combination of gentamicin [20 mg/kg/12 h] with low and high therapeutic doses of ciprofloxacin [20 mg/kg/12 h and 40 mg/kg12h respectively] by intraperitoneal route. Gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity was evaluated by histopathological and serum analysis. The extent of these changes were significantly increased when gentamicin was given in combination with ciprofloxacin both in low and high doses. although the mechanisms by which ciprofloxacin enhances the nephrotoxic potential of gentamicin are unknown, it is proposed that ciprofloxacin induced allergic interstitial nephritis, enhances the nephrotoxicity and it was indicated by increased amount of interstitial inflammatory infiltrate in the renal proximal tubules of the animals treated with ciprofloxacin-gentamicin combination