RENAL ALTERATIONS IN FEMALE RATS FOLLOWING SUBCHRONIC LEAD-EXPOSURE

Female Wistar rats were given 1% or 0.1% lead acetate in drinking wate r for 2 or 4 months, respectively. Urinary beta(2)-microglobulin, N-ac etyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, lactate dehydrogenase and lysozyme were u sed as markers of tubular dysfunction. Excretion of albumin and glomer ular filtration rate were used as indicators of glomerular impairment. Kidney and body weights and morphological changes in the kidney were also studied. Exposure to 1% lead acetate induced a mean blood Lead le vel of 1730 mu g l(-1) and caused only an increase of beta(2)-microglo bulin excretion and relative kidney weight. Light microscopy of kidney revealed morphological changes mainly in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. The role of acetate or reduced water intake on kidne y function was excluded because 1% sodium acetate or the restriction o f water intake to the volume consumed by the rats of the lead-exposed group was ineffective. Exposure to 0.1% lead acetate induced a blood l ead level of 376 mu g l(-1), corresponding to the current level in ind ustry workers, without any sign of nephrotoxicity, Comparison of this study with the results of a previous study on male rats indicates no s ex difference in the nephrotoxicity of lead.