BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL AND URINARY CHANGES IN MERCURIC-CHLORIDE INDUCED CHRONIC NEPHROSIS IN GOATS

The suitable model of nephrosis was successfully produced in goats by multiple i/v mercuric chloride (HgCl2) administration at increasing do ses for 28 days. It was characterized by notable blood and urine chang es. Serum biochemical alterations included marked increase of urea nit rogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), uric acid and inorganic phosphorus (Pi), significant decrease in calcium, sodium and marginally elevated alkali ne phosphatase activity (ALP). Urinalysis revealed significant decline of specific gravity and pH along with the presence of protein and gra nular/epithelial casts. Markedly low concentration of UN, Cr and Pi an d increased ALP activity in urine. The adverse effect of HgCl2 was dos e-dependent with cummulative effect on renal tissues. In addition to s erum UN and Cr, urine ALP activity was dependable for assessing the se verity of renal insufficiency.