ROLE OF IRON AND IRON CHELATION-THERAPY IN OXYGEN-FREE RADICAL-MEDIATED TISSUE-INJURY IN AN ASCENDING MOUSE MODEL OF CHRONIC PYELONEPHRITIS

The contribution of iron towards the free radical generation leading t o renal tissue damage was assessed using a non-obstructive ascending m ouse model for chronic pyelonephritis. The parameters studied include luminol dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL), histopathology and some bi ochemical investigations. We found that iron enhanced the renal tissue damage and led to renal scarring, an end point in chronic renal infla mmation, irrespective of the bacterial strain studied. In addition a r ole of iron chelation therapy as a treatment for chronic renal inflamm ation is also suggested. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.