Renal Function and Mercury Level in Rats with Mercuric Chloride Nephrotoxicity

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Abstract
The levels of Hg2+ in different subcellular compartments of rat kidney cortex were determined after a single s.c. injection of 203HgCl2, 4.7 mg/kg body weight. By 30 min after injection, cortical Hg2+ level was 46.3 .+-. 6.8 .mu.g/g protein. A maximal cortical Hg2+ value of 429 .+-. 49 .mu.g/g protein was reached 4 h after injection. Hg2+ associated with the brush border membrane showed a progressive increase during the first 15 h after injection, but at each time interval was significantly less than cortical Hg2+. The 45-h values for cortex and brush border were equivalent. No evidence for the presence in plasma or kidney tissue of free Hg2+ was obtained. Saline loading protected animals against the development of renal failure and resulted in significant lowering of cortical Hg2+ levels without an effect on blood Hg2+ concentrations.