Toxicity of Mercuric Chloride to the Developing Rat Kidney. 1. Postnatal Ontogeny of Renal Sensitivity

摘要

Although the sensitivity of the adult rat kidney to mercuric chloride has widely been reported, the degree to which this toxicant affects the developing kidney is unknown. Therefore, this study examined the effects of HgCl2 on renal function during postnatal maturation. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a single sc injection of 5 mg/kg HgCl2 on Day 1, 8, 15, 22, or 29 after birth. The effects on renal function, histology, and morphology were assessed 24, 48, and 120 hr after each treatment. Measurements of renal function included urine volume, osmolality, the ability to concentrate urine during water deprivation, urinary pH, chloride and protein content, tests for glucosuria, hematuria, and various serum chemistry parameters. Rats were killed and their kidneys processed and examined by light microscopy. The renal sensitivity to HgCl2 increased throughout maturation for every parameter measured. No pups treated with HgCl2 on Day 1 died, but mortality increased to almost 20% in rats treated 22 and 29 days after birth.