Effect of age on vanadium nephrotoxicity in rats

The present study was designed to assess potential age dependent difference s of vanadium nephrotoxicity in the rat following parenteral administration of vanadate. Young (22 days) and adult (62 days) male Sprague-Dawley rats received i.p. injections of sodium orthovanadate at 10 mg/kg/day for 8 cons ecutive days. Two additional groups of control rats received i.p. injection s of 0.9% saline during the same period. Significant age-differences were f ound in most of the parameters used as indicators of nephrotoxicity in youn g and adult rats, with adverse renal effects being more severe with age. Va nadium-induced morphologic changes in the kidney were also more pronounced with age. These findings agree with a higher renal concentration of vanadiu m in the group of adult rats treated with vanadate than in the vanadate-unt reated group. The current results can be of concern if in the future, vanad ium compounds can be administered in the treatment of diabetic patients. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.