Aminoglycosides cortical uptake

Another class of catamphiphilic drugs with high toxic potential is the aminoglycosides. Their nephrotoxicity is manifested by lethal injury to the proximal tubular cells by means of the induction of renal cortical lysosomal phospholipidosis. The toxic effect involves three steps the uptake of the antibiotics into the cells, the intralysoso-mal lipid storage, and, finally, cell necrosis. The aminoglycosides are highly water... 

Bennett WM, Plamp CE, Elliott WC, Parker RA, Porter GA. Effect of basic amino acids and aminoglycosides on 3H-gentamicin uptake in cortical slices of rat and human kidney. J Lab Clin Med 1982 99 156-62. 

The uptake of aminoglycosides into proximal renal tubular epithelial cells is limited to the luminal cell border and is saturable. Less frequent administration of doses larger than needed for saturation of this uptake may therefore reduce drug accumulation in the renal cortex (98). In vitro and in vivo data have provided evidence that partially reduced oxygen metabolites (superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical), which are generated by renal cortical mitochondria, are important mediators of aminoglycoside-induced acute renal insufficiency (99). 

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