title: Propylthiouracil attenuates acetaminophen-induced renal damage in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, there is no specific antidote to acetaminophen poisoning. Propylthiouracil (PTU) has been shown to be protective against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver damage in rats; however, the nephroprotective effect of propylthiouracil has not been studied yet.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to verify this, rats were given different doses of PTU (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg per body weight, orally) 1 h before a nephrotoxic dose of APAP (1,000 mg/kg per body weight, intraperitoneally (i.p.)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propylthiouracil pretreatment significantly reduced APAP-induced nephrotoxicity in a dose-dependant manner, as evidenced by reduction in plasma creatinine and by amelioration of renal pathology (interstitial congestion, tubular cell degeneration and necrosis).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanism of protection by PTU is probably not due to the sparing effect of non-protein thiol (approximately 95% of which is reduced glutathione), as similar depletion of renal glutathione was observed regardless of PTU pretreatment; other mechanisms are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Bagayam, Vellore, India. premilaabraham@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Premila
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Indirani
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kanakasabapathy
authors.forename: Bondu Joseph
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dian
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D000082:Acetaminophen; D011441:Propylthiouracil; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine