The implication of renal glutathione levels in mercuric chloride nephrotoxicity.

The effects of renal glutathione (GSH) depletion on renal injury following a single injection of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) were evaluated in the rat. Animals were injected with different doses of HgCl2 and the renal function were studied 1 h later. Diethylmaleate (DEM) (4 mmol/kg body wt, i.p.) induced a significant depletion of GSH by reducing renal GSH levels to 25% of control values. This effect lasted for 6 h. HgCl2-induced nephrotoxicity, as measured by fractional excretion of glucose, lithium, sodium, potassium and water was increased in rats treated with DEM. The time course of HgCl2 nephrotoxicity was also investigated by determining the renal function at different times after HgCl2 and HgCl2 plus DEM injection. Renal impairment was significantly more marked in rat depleted of GSH.