title: Early morphological and biochemical changes during 2-Br-(diglutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone-induced nephrotoxicity.
abstract: Early subcellular targets of 2-Br-(diglutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone (2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ)-mediated nephrotoxicity were investigated by morphological and biochemical criteria. After treatment of male Fischer 344 rats with 2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ (30 mumol/kg), proximal tubular morphology was examined by electron microscopy. Changes in the plasma membrane, nuclei, and endoplasmic reticulum were observed within 30 min of 2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ administration. These changes consisted of loss of the brush border membrane, margination of heterochromatin, and reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum into discrete aggregates. The desquamation of the brush border membrane into the tubular lumen corresponded with the rapid excretion of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase in urine. As the injury developed, cell swelling with loss of cytosolic density and loss of chromatin staining was observed, and between 2 and 4 hr the nuclei underwent extensive karyorrhexis and karyolysis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA isolated from the corticomedullary junction at 4 hr exhibited extensive fragmentation, which was random in nature. Mitochondria assumed a condensed configuration 2 hr after 2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ administration, but this was not followed by high-amplitude swelling prior to cell death and necrosis. Biochemical assessment of mitochondria, isolated from 2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ-treated rats at 2 hr, exhibited a significant (20%) decrease in respiratory control ratios (RCR), a consequence of an increase in State 4 respiration. At later time points (8 hr) State 4 respiration returned to control values, but the respiratory control ratio (RCR) remained significantly depressed due to decreases in State 3 respiration. At this time blood urea nitrogen concentrations were significantly elevated (41 +/- 3, mean +/- SD, n = 10). The data suggest that the plasma membrane and the nucleus are early targets of 2-Br-(diGSyl)HQ-induced cytotoxicity, and that alterations in mitochondrial structure and respiratory function occur following the initial injury.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin 78712-1074.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Monks
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D006873:Hydroquinones; C066791:2-bromo-(diglutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone; D004247:DNA; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione