MERCURIC-CHLORIDE EFFECTS ON RAT RENAL REDOX ENZYMES ACTIVITIES - SODPROTECTION

This study was done to determine the effect of mercuric chloride treat ment on the redox cycle enzymes in rat kidney ex-vivo. Glutathione per oxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (Cat) activities were measured in kidney homogenates from rats with different nonprotein sulfhydrils levels an d different mercury content. The results indicated that GSH-Px activit y was enhanced in mercury-treated rats in direct relationship with kid ney mercury content, whereas Cat activity was increased in the presenc e of the highest mercury kidney content obtained. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was administered to rats prior to mercury chloride injection an d renal function, development of lipid peroxidation and renal glutathi one level were measured 1 h later. Renal function, renal glutathione, and renal lipid peroxidation production were maintained similar to con trol values. Moreover, SOD pretreatment also protected kidney from mer curic chloride histological alterations observed 24 h post mercury tre atment. Thus, an inhibition of renal redox cycle enzymes ''in vivo,'' did not appear to be an important determinant of the increased lipid p eroxidation observed during mercuric chloride nephrotoxicity.