In vitro toxicity of cephalosporin and aminoglycoside antibiotics to LLC-PK(1) cells assessed by changes in glucose uptake.

Nephrotoxin-induced damage to cultured kidney cells (LLC-PK(1)) was investigated using assays of general cytotoxicity (neutral red uptake) and of functional impairment (glucose accumulation). The latter correctly ranked both the cephalosporin and aminoglycoside antibiotics (acute and chronic proximal tubule toxicants respectively) in terms of their relative in vivo toxicities. Functional impairment after low-dose long-term exposure to the aminoglycosides occurred at sublethal drug concentrations. Assessment of general cytotoxicity correctly ranked only the aminoglycoside antibiotics.