Aim: The changes in divalent cations concentration were assessed in and experimentally gentamicin-induced renal failure in white Wistar rats.
Material and methods: The white male Wistar rats were distributed into 4 groups of 7 animals each and were treated intraperitoneally as follows: Group I (Control): distilled water in a volume of 0.5ml/100g rat/day for10 days; Group II (Ge): gentamicin 80 mg/kbw/day for 7 days; Group III (Ge+Zn): gentamicin 80 mg/kbw/day for 7 days and ZnCl2 5 mg/kbw/day for 10 days prior to administration of Ge and then another 7 days simultaneously with Ge administration; Group IV (Zn): ZnCl2 5 mg/kbw/day for 17 days. Before starting the experiment (I0) and at 3, 7 and 10 days after the first Ge administration, magnesium, copper and zinc plasma concentrations and urinary magnesium levels were determined.
Results: Zn administration significantly decreased (p<0.001) plasma Mg concentrations in Ge+Zn group compared to Ge group after 7 days in the experiment, and induced a lower urinary elimination of Mg in Ge+Zn group (p<0.05) than in Ge group (p<0.01). Also, Zn induced a slight augmentation of Cu concentration in Ge+Zn group (p<0.05) compared to Ge group after 7 and 10 days.
Conclusions: The variation in divalent cation concentrations in the context of renal diseases may be helpful for an early diagnosis and effective alternative therapeutic measures.