ONTOGENIC ASPECTS OF THALLIUM-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS

Key words: thallium sulphate; nephrotoxicity; morphology; ontogeny; ra ts. The effect of TI2SO4 (TI, 20 mg kg(-1) body wt.) on renal function was investigated in 10- and 20-day-old rats, Nephrotoxic effects were evaluated by the determination of glomerular filtration rate, urinary volume, electrolyte and protein excretion, as well as by morphologica l investigations, In contrast to adult rats there were no morphologica l destructions in 10- and 20-day-old rats. Changes in renal function s eemed to be less expressed in 10- and 20-day-old than in adult rats, T he smaller nephrotoxicity in 10-day-old rats may be caused by lower TI concentration in renal tissue, whereas in 20-day-old rats decreased n ephrotoxicity cannot be explained in this way, The activity of Na-/K+- ATPase in rat renal tissues was found to be involved in the mechanisms of TI enrichment in renal tissue, being an indirect determinant of TI nephrotoxicity.