EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON CDCL2-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN THE RAT

We developed a rat model of cadmium (Cd)-induced nephrotoxicity and tr ied to prevent renal damage by treating the animals with pentoxifyllin e (PTX). Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats given CdCl2 3.0 mg/kg sc, daily for 2 wk showed evidences of renal proximal tubular damage, including sign ificant increases in urine volume, urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta- D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa), and a decrease in the percentage of tubula r reabsorption of phosphate (%TRP). PTX significantly improved the uri nary excretion of NAG and %TRP. Urine volume was increased threefold i n the CdCl2-treated rats and fivefold in the Cd + PTX-treated rats, re spectively, as compared with saline-treated control. Total protein, AA P, and creatinine clearance, showed no change after PTX administration . Concentration of Cd in the renal cortex was three times higher than that in the renal medulla, but there were no differences in concentrat ion between the Cd-treated rats and the Cd + PTX-treated rats. Our ani mal model was useful in studying the renal tubular damage produced by cadmium. PTX appears useful for improving the nephrotoxicity of Cd.