Effect of pyridoxine on rifampicin toxicity.

The effects of pyridoxine (PN) on rifampicin (RMF) toxicity were investigated by both in vivo and in vitro methods. RMF (30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally and PN(150 mg/kg) was administered orally to rats for 10 consecutive days. After treatment, clinical chemistry and hematologic profiles were measured. RMF and PN plus RMF did not show any adverse effects at this in vivo experimental condition. Thymidine incorporations of mice bone marrow cells were examined in vitro. RMF showed a decrease in thymidine uptake in a dose-dependent manner, but PN showed a reversal of the thymidine uptake suppression caused by RMF (p < 0.01). On the other hand, PN showed a decrease in thymidine uptake at a high concentration level.