Renal accumulation and intrarenal distribution of inorganic mercury in the rabbit: Effect of unilateral nephrectomy and dose of mercuric chloride

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States)

OSTI ID:5505174

Zalups, R K ^[1]

---

1. Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA (USA)

The effects of unilateral nephrectomy and dose of mercuric chloride on the short-term renal accumulation and intrarenal distribution of inorganic mercury were studied in the rabbit. The renal accumulation of inorganic mercury, on a per gram basis, was increased in uninephrectomized (NPX) rabbits compared with that in sham-operated (SO) rabbits 24 h after the animals received either a nontoxic 2.0 mumol/kg or nephrotoxic 4.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride. In the NPX rabbits given the 2.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride, the increased accumulation of inorganic mercury was due to increased accumulation of mercury in the outer stripe of the outer medulla. In the NPX rabbits given the 4.0 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride, the increased renal accumulation of mercury appeared to be due to increased accumulation of mercury in both the renal cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla. Interestingly, no differences in the renal accumulation of inorganic mercury were found between NPX and SO rabbits given a low nontoxic 0.5 mumol/kg dose of mercuric chloride. As the dose of mercuric chloride was increased from 0.5 to 4.0 mumol/kg, the percent of the administered dose of mercury that accumulated in each gram of renal tissue decreased substantially. The findings in the present study indicate that the renal accumulation of inorganic mercury increases after unilateral nephrectomy when certain nontoxic and nephrotoxic doses of mercuric chloride are administered. In addition, they indicate that the percent of the administered dose of mercury that accumulates in the renal tissue of both NPX and SO rabbits decreases as the dose of mercuric chloride is increased.

• OSTI ID: 5505174
• Journal Information: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 33:2; ISSN JTEHD; ISSN 0098-4108
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BODY
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
KIDNEYS
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
MERCURY
MERCURY ISOTOPES
METABOLISM
METALS
NEPHRECTOMY
ORGANS
RABBITS
SURGERY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VERTEBRATES