Renal amino acid transport in immature and adult rats during thallium-induced nephrotoxicity.

The effect of Tl2SO4 (Tl, 2 mg/100 g b.wt.) on renal amino acid excretion and plasma amino acid composition was investigated in 10- and 55-day-old rats. Tl decreased glomerular filtration rate only in adult rats. On the other hand, the renal fractional excretion (FE) of amino acids was distinctly higher in adult rats as a sign of lower amino acid reabsorption capacity after Tl. In immature animals FE was increased only for a few amino acids. However, in both age groups Tl administration significantly decreased plasma amino acid concentrations, and was more pronounced in immature rats. The investigation of renal amino acid handling (1) confirms that Tl was more nephrotoxic in 55-day-old animals as demonstrated before using other parameters for nephrotoxicity testing and (2) showed that determination of renal amino acid handling is a suitable marker for nephrotoxicity in adult rats.

Age differences in cisplatinum nephrotoxicity.

Male and female Wistar rats (5-105-day-old) were administered 3 different doses of cisplatinum (CP) (0.15, 0.3 or 0.6 mg/100 g body wt, intraperitoneally) After 3 days the renal excretory functions were investigated. There were no sex differences in nephrotoxicity. In rats of all age groups a dose dependent decrease in body weight appeared. In 5- and 33-105-day-old rats the 2 lower doses did not or only mildly influence renal function. 0.6 mg CP/100 g body wt in these age groups lead to a significant reduction in urine volume. The excretion of osmotically active substances and p-aminohippurate were reduced. There is a statistically significant proteinuria. In 10- and 15-day-old rats the 2 lower doses were without any pathologic consequences, but 0.6 mg CP/100 g body wt was followed by a significant increase in the protein excretion of 15-day-old rats. Consequently, regarding the parameters measured 10-15-day-old rats seemed to be less susceptible to CP-nephrotoxicity.

Functional and morphological aspects of thallium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Until now the effect of thallium (Tl) on renal function has not been investigated systematically. Therefore, the dose (5, 10, 15, 20 mg Tl2SO4/kg body wt., intraperitoneally) and time-dependence of renal damage was investigated in diuresis experiments on conscious rats. Morphology was evaluated after perfusion fixation in situ. Morphologic changes were localized in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, mostly expressed at the 2nd day after Tl administration, which were completely normalized again at the 10th day. Other parameters such as Tl concentration, changes in water content and the activity of Na+/K(+)-ATPase as well as the diuretic effect of furosemide confirmed the Tl effect to be localized in the renal medulla. One single Tl administration is followed by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine volume and an increase of proteinuria. Electrolyte excretion was only slightly changed. All changes were reversible within the 10-day investigation period.

Riboflavin can decrease the nephrotoxic effect of chromate in young and adult rats.

The influence of 5 mg vitamin B2/100 g b.wt. (B2, riboflavin) on the nephrotoxic effect of 1 or 2 mg Na2Cr2O7/100 g b.wt. (Cr) was investigated in 55- and 10-day-old rats, respectively. Nephrotoxic effect was evaluated by the determination of urinary volume and protein excretion as well as the concentration of blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The concomitant administration of Cr and B2 only in 55-day-old rats increased the nephrotoxicity shown by enhanced proteinuria and BUN. B2, administered 3 h after Cr, was able to diminish Cr nephrotoxicity significantly in 55- and 10-day-old rats. The effect of B2 on Cr nephrotoxicity could be interpreted not by the stimulatory effect of B2 on GSSG reductase, which was abolished by Cr; but by its antioxidant effect.

LLU-alpha, an endogenous metabolite of gamma-tocopherol, is more effective against metal nephrotoxicity in rats than gamma-tocopherol.

Antioxidants of the vitamin E family have protective effects against metal toxicity. We examined the protective effect of racemic LLU-alpha [2,7,8-trimethyl-2-(carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman] a metabolite of gamma-tocopherol, in comparison to the effect of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol in rats treated with sodium dichromate (Cr) or thallium sulfate (Tl). We measured metal nephrotoxicity based on urinary protein excretion and discussed it with respect to the metal concentration in renal tissue. The ranking of antioxidant activity (iron stimulated lipid peroxidation, luminol and lucigenin amplified chemiluminescence) was determined in the following order: alpha-tocopherol

Vitamin E and C in the prevention of metal nephrotoxicity in developing rats.

The protective effect of vitamin E and C on sodium chromate (Cr) and thallium (Tl) induced nephrotoxicity was tested in 10- and 55-day-old rats. The concentrations of Cr and Tl were determined in renal cortex and medulla by atomic absorption spectrometry. Urinary volume and protein excretion as well as blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration were determined as parameters of nephrotoxicity. Cr and Tl induced nephrotoxicity was significantly more expressed in adult than in young rats. In Cr and Tl nephrotoxicity the protective effect of vitamin E was evident in both age groups. Vitamin E decreased Tl concentration in renal tissue. Therefore its protective effect is not to be attributed to its known antioxidant effect but to lower Tl concentration in renal tissue. Vitamin C was protective in Cr and Tl induced nephrotoxicity in adult rats without influence on metal concentrations in renal tissue. The dose necessary for protection against toxic Cr action in adult rats was not tolerated by young rats. The combined administration of both vitamins abolished the protective effect against Cr nephrotoxicity of the administration of each vitamin alone in adult rats. When vitamin E and C were administered in Tl treated adult and young rats the protective effect was the same as after the administration of each vitamin alone. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Temporary warm ischaemia, 5/6 nephrectomy and single uranyl nitrate administration--comparison of three models intended to cause renal fibrosis in rats.

In patients the progression of pathologic renal processes after the treatment of primary disease is a problem of increasing importance and therapeutic strategies are insufficient till now. The aim of this paper was to search for rat models of interstitial fibrosis as a basis for testing therapeutic strategies to prevent end-stage renal failure. Experiments were done on adult female Wistar rats (Han:Wist) to investigate long-term consequences of temporary warm ischaemia, 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NX) and single uranyl nitrate (UN) administration (0.3 or 0.5 mg/ 100 g body wt. intraperitoneally). Observation time was 20 weeks after injury in each group. Creatinine clearance, urinary protein excretion and hydroxy-proline (OH-proline) concentration in renal tissue were measured and light microscopic investigations were done to characterise both quality and time course of long-term renal damage in relation to matched control animals. Temporary warm ischaemia and 5/6 NX did not cause any fibrotic changes during the 20 weeks observation period. The higher UN dose led to decreased creatinine clearance, increased urinary protein excretion and enhanced OH-proline concentration in renal tissue. Morphologic investigations showed fibrotic areas containing strongly dilated and atrophic tubules with thickened basal membranes. These effects can be seen from week four after UN administration up to the end of the observation period. In conclusion, administration of one single dose of UN is a simple procedure to induce interstitial renal fibrosis as an experimental model to investigate therapeutic strategies for their prevention.

[Inhibition of the renal excretion of PAH by probenecid homologs]. / Hemmung der renalen PAH-Ausscheidung durch Probenecid-Homologe.

The authors studied the effects of probenecid and five of its homologues on the renal excretion of p-amino-hippuric acid (PAH). All the compounds under study inhibited the excretion of PAH. Probenecid and its homologues were injected 15 min before the administration of PAH. With all the substances tested, the inhibition of the excretion of PAH was most marked during the first 30 min of the diuresis experiment. The extent of efficiency increases within the homologous series up to the diethyl compound; after that, the inhibitory effect decreases with the increase in chain length. In the dosage range under study, the probenecid homologues show linear dose-response relationships. With due regard to toxicity and efficiency, the authors conclude from the results obtained that the diethyl compound is the most potent substance; probenecid itself is less efficient, being twice as toxic.

[Stimulation of the renal excretion of p-aminohippuric acid by probenecid homologues (author's transl)]. / Stimulation der renalen PAH-Ausscheidung durch Probenecid-Homologe.

Probenecid and five of its homologues showed increased lipophilicity with increasing chain length of the substituents. Parallel to this, the toxicity increased about 30 times. All the probenecide homologues under study stimulated the excretion of p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) when applied repeatedly. If a threshold dose is exceeded, an increase of the pretreatment dose will not result in a further increase in PAH excretion. As compared to non-pretreated control animals, the highest possible increase in PAH excretion lies between 40 and 80% independently of the structure of the respective probenecide homologue. Due to their more favourable therapeutic range (LD50 divided by D40-50), the probenecide homologues with shorter chains are better suited to stimulate the excretion of PAH, though the extent of stimulation is the same with all the probenicide homologues under study.

In vivo investigations on the cholinesterase-inhibiting effects of tricyclic quinazolinimines: scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in rats are attenuated at low dosage and reinforced at higher dosage.

Tricyclic quinazolinimines as a novel class of potent inhibitors of cholinesterases in vitro are micro- and sub-micromolar inhibitors with activities at both acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) or at BChE only. To further establish the antiamnesic properties of this class of compounds, an in vivo test system has been established. Cognitive impairment in rats was reversibly induced by scopolamine (0.05 mg/100 g body weight) and evaluated in an eight-arm radial maze. A representative quinazolinimine (MD212) showed attenuation of cognitive deficits at a low dosage (0.01 mg/100 g body weight), whereas at a high dosage (>0.1 mg/100 g body weight) the effect of scopolamine is markedly reinforced. As MD212 applied alone does not influence rat's cognition at all, the reinforcement of scopolamine effect has to be due to the amplification of scopolamine action possibly by (1) inhibition of scopolamine metabolism, (2) influence of scopolamine on MD212 metabolism or (3) allosteric modulation of mACh receptors. Receptor-binding studies proved hypothesis (3): MD212 stabilizes [3H]N-methylscopolamine binding to muscarinic receptors allosterically.

Efforts to establish an animal model of Fanconi syndrome after ifosfamide administration to rats.

About 10% of children develop Fanconi syndrome (FS) a few months after ifosfamide (IFO) treatment. To establish an animal model, IFO was injected as 4 or 5 treatment courses (TCs, once daily for 3 consecutive days), to adult female rats (AF, 8 mg 100 g(-1) body wt, 4 TCs), to young female rats (YF, 8 mg 100 g(-1) body wt, 5 TCs) and to male rats (M, 6 mg 100 g(-1) body wt, 4 TCs). In the adult female rats, polyuria with electrolyte and albumin wasting occurred acutely, 2 days after the first treatment course. After the third treatment course, 30% of the rats died, but survivors showed a reduced excretion of electrolytes and glucose. The body weight increase was significantly diminished in adult female and male rats by about 25% or 70%, respectively. Up to 5 months after 5 TCs in young female rats, 15% of the animals died but the survivors did not show any sign of renal failure. In males, 28% of the rats died and in surviving animals the excretion of electrolytes, proteins and glucose as well as GFR were reduced 7 weeks after the last treatment course. There were no pathomorphological changes in kidney and liver. Determination of renal and hepatic cytochrome P450 activities indicated that results of adult female and male rats could be caused by starving, known as a common side effect of IFO, and not by its nephrotoxicity. Altogether, it was not possible to establish a model of a Fanconi syndrome persisting after cessation of IFO treatment in our rat strain, whereas acute, FS-like IFO effects on the kidney could be shown.

Ontogenic changes in the nephrotoxicity of chromate correlate with the glutathione oxidoreduction system.

The role of GSH concentration and GSSG reductase activity in age differences in chromate nephrotoxicity was investigated. Young and adult rats were injected with 2 and 1 mg sodium chromate/100 g body weight (BW), respectively, which led to equal Cr concentrations in renal tissue. Cr nephrotoxicity was lower in young than in adult rats. It was shown that from 30 minutes after the chromate injection GSSG reductase activity in renal tissue was increased in adult but decreased in young rats by the chromate. GSSG reductase activity was increased in young rats by pretreatment with phenobarbital. The consequence was an enhancement of chromate nephrotoxicity as shown by proteinuria. Renal GSH concentration is lower in young rats and limiting for chromate reduction in vitro in these animals. Therefore, GSH concentration was increased by pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, which enhanced chromate nephrotoxicity significantly. These results reflect the important role of the GSH oxidoreduction system in chromate nephrotoxicity and its relationship to age differences.

Age dependent differences in sodium dichromate nephrotoxicity in rats.

Investigations were performed on 10- and 55-day-old female Wistar rats. 1 or 2 mg sodium dichromate/100 g b. m. were administered subcutaneously. Urine was collected for 1 hour at different times after dichromate injection. Total urinary protein as well as some protein fractions (high and low molecular weight proteins as well as albumin) were determined. In adult rats dose dependence of nephrotoxicity was found concerning the extent and duration of renal damage. Separation of proteins gave an insight into the location of injury. At the beginning and in the recovery phase preferentially tubular damage was found. The peak of damage is characterized by additional glomerular disturbances. Young rats are much less susceptible to dichromate than adult rats are. Possible reasons are discussed.

Metyrapone decreases the glutathione concentration in liver and kidney.

A single dose of 7.5 mg/100 g b.wt. metyrapone, intraperitoneally, decreased the concentration of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione in the liver and kidney of female Wistar rats for approximately 4-5 h. The ratio between GSSG and GSH was not affected in the kidney but is decreased in the liver.

Effect of sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine on the renal excretion of water and electrolytes in developing rats.

The influence of sympathectomy (SE) by s.c. administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (10 mg/100 g b.m. daily from the 1st up to the 4th day of life) on the age dependent development of the renal excretion of water and electrolytes was tested by means of diuresis experiments in conscious rats. Immediately after SE natriuresis occurs as a consequence of denervation. Already on the 10th day of life this denervation diuresis disappears due to several compensatory mechanisms and 10 to 55 day old rats excrete less sodium than control animals of the same age. The potassium excretion is also diminished in 20 to 55 day old rats. The results show -- that the typical age course of water and electrolyte excretion is not altered by SE, -- that adrenergic influences are of importance for the renal function in rats, and -- that the consequences of the sympathectomy can be fully compensated in the kidney too.

Role of glutathione for cisplatin nephrotoxicity in young and adult rats.

Investigations were done in 10- and 55-day-old Wistar rats. Glutathione (GSH) level in kidney was decreased by 8 mmol buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)/100 g BW. There was no effect on the renal function and nephrotoxicity of cisplatin (0.6 mg CP/100 g BW) in adult rats. In young rats BSO treatment was followed by nephrotoxic effects. Pt concentration remained unaffected by BSO in young and adult rats. GSH concentration in kidney was increased by 100 mg acetyl-cysteine (accys)/100 g BW. CP nephrotoxicity was lower in young as well as in adult ac-cys-treated rats. Pt levels in renal tissue were significantly decreased in rats from both age groups. From our results we conclude that the beneficial effect of high GSH concentration in renal tissue on CP nephrotoxicity is the result of decreased Pt concentration in kidney.

Is thallium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats connected with riboflavin and/or GSH?--reconsideration of hypotheses on the mechanism of thallium toxicity.

Adult female Wistar rats (Han:Wist) were injected with 2 mg of Tl2SO4 per 100 g body weight. Parameters of nephrotoxicity were urinary volume and protein excretion as well as blood urea nitrogen concentration. Thallium concentrations were determined in renal cortex and medulla. There was no effect of different schedules of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) treatment on thallium nephrotoxicity. Glutathione (GSH) concentration was not decreased by thallium in renal cortex or in medulla. The increase of GSH concentration in renal tissue by N-acetylcysteine pretreatment did not influence thallium nephrotoxicity. Buthionine sulphoximine diminished thallium nephrotoxicity by a significant decrease of thallium concentration in renal medulla, which was caused by enhanced urinary excretion of thallium. From our investigations we conclude that there is no relation between thallium-induced nephrotoxicity and riboflavin and/or GSH.

Nephrotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of cisplatinum in young and adult rats.

Wistar rats (10 and 55 days old) were administered a single dose of 0.6 mg cisplatinum (CP) 100 g body wt. intraperitoneally. Urinary volume, p-aminohippurate and total protein excretion were determined. Separation of urinary proteins was performed by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Significant symptoms of nephrotoxicity (oliguria, reduced PAH-excretion, heavy proteinuria, changes in urinary protein composition) were detected in adult rats 72 h after CP. At that time young rats did not show distinct signs of nephrotoxicity. Experiments on time dependence of nephrotoxicity showed that in young rats symptoms occurred already 6 h after CP-administration, and 72 h after CP the damage was nearly completely repaired. Pt-determination in serum, kidney tissue, and urine showed a shorter t1/2 in serum, lower concentrations in kidney tissue as well as higher Pt-concentrations in urine of young compared with adult rats.

Protective effects of methimazole against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

In adult rats 6 mg kg-1 body wt. cisplatin given i.p. was nephrotoxic. Four days of i.p. treatment with 40 mg kg-1 body wt. methimazole, which started 1 day before CP, prevented increases in blood urea nitrogen and in the renal excretion of proteins. Furthermore, methimazole treatment reduced the oliguric effect of cisplatin and the depression of renal sodium excretion. However, it had no effect on the increased formation of lipid peroxides in cisplatin-damaged kidneys, although repeated treatment with methimazole enhanced the renal glutathione content. Methimazole acts as a radical scavenger, maintaining the glutathione pool in the kidney.