D. Appenroth, ONTOGENIC CHANGES IN THE NEPHROTOXICITY OF CHROMATE CORRELATE WITH THE GLUTATHIONE OXIDOREDUCTION SYSTEM, Journal of trace elements and electrolytes in health and disease, 8(1), 1994, pp. 33-36
The role of GSH concentration and GSSG reductase activity in age diffe
rences in chromate nephrotoxicity was investigated. Young and adult ra
ts were injected with 2 and 1 mg sodium chromate/100 g body weight (BW
), respectively, which led to equal Cr concentrations in renal tissue.
Cr nephrotoxicity was lower in young than in adult rats. It was shown
that from 30 minutes after the chromate injection GSSG reductase acti
vity in renal tissue was increased in adult but decreased in young rat
s by the chromate. GSSG reductase activity was increased in young rats
by pretreatment with phenobarbital. The consequence was an enhancemen
t of chromate nephrotoxicity as shown by proteinuria. Renal GSH concen
tration is lower in young rats and limiting for chromate reduction in
vitro in these animals. Therefore, GSH concentration was increased by
pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, which enhanced chromate nephrotoxi
city significantly. These results reflect the important role of the GS
H oxidoreduction system in chromate nephrotoxicity and its relationshi
p to age differences.