In-vitro uptake of gentamicin and tobramycin by rat renal tubules in the presence or absence of Escherichia coli endotoxin.

Renal tubules of rats were incubated with aminoglycoside (gentamicin or 3H-tobramycin, 10 mg/l) in the presence or absence of Escherichia coli endotoxin (10 mg/l). The kinetics of aminoglycoside uptake by the tubule were only slightly affected by endotoxin. The percentage of serum in the medium affected the tobramycin uptake. This uptake decreased from a mean ratio of concentration in the tubules/concentration in the medium (T/M) of 1.63 in 5% serum to a mean T/M of 0.86 in 10% serum (P less than 0.01).