KIDNEY TUBULE ENZYMES AND EXTRACELLULAR DNA IN URINE AS MARKERS FOR NEPHROTOXICITY IN THE GUINEA-PIG

Guinea pigs were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 1.35 mg/k g body weight of mercuric chloride; then various kidney enzymes and ex tracellular DNA were assayed in urine. Dramatic increases of all studi ed markers were observed on the first day following treatment. Sequent ial collection of urines allowed for kinetic studies: membrane markers alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase were first release d, then cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial glutamate de hydrogenase, finally extracellular DNA; DNA release is equated with ce ll death. The features of kidney damage revealed by comparative and qu antitative studies of these noninvasive markers suggest that brush bor der erasure was more extensive than cell necrosis.