Glomerular compromise in mercuric chloride-induced nephrotoxicity.
We have examined the effects of mercuric chloride on renal glomerular structure. Isolated glomeruli from mercury-treated rats (HgCl2, 5 mg/kg body wt, s.c.) 1 hour post injection presented a diminished cross-sectional area as compared with control glomeruli [control (micron2) = 26,310 +/- 2,545, HgCl2 (micron2) = 18,474 +/- 1,828] and higher glomerular calcium content (control = 23 +/- 6 nmoles/mg prot, HgCl2 = 43 +/- 7 nmoles/mg prot). Renal sections prepared for immunohistochemical and histochemical analysis showed larger deposits of fibronectin and lipids and enhanced cellularity in glomerular structures from HgCl2-treated rats. Moreover, mieloperoxidase activity measured in isolated glomeruli were also increased as compared with control preparations [MPO (U/mg prot): control = 59 +/- 7, HgCl2 = 134 +/- 10]. When the animals were studied 24 hours post HgCl2 injection, glomerular cross-sectional area values were not different from control values (25,276 +/- 1,983 micron2), while calcium contents were higher than values observed 1 hour after treatment (92 +/- 9 nmoles/mg prot). A similar pattern was observed in fibronectin deposits. Hypercellularity in glomerular structures and the higher mieloperoxidase levels were maintained at this time (MPO HgCl2-rats 24 h = 148 +/- 31 U/mg prot). The effects observed in this study are consistent with an inflammatory response in the glomerular structure of HgCl2-treated rats that could explain the altered renal function described in previous reports in our laboratory.
Girardi
G
G
Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario (CIUNR), Argentina.
Saball
D E
DE
Salvarrey
M S
MS
Elías
M M
MM
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D008627:Mercuric Chloride; D009195:Peroxidase; D002118:Calcium