Some biochemical changes in the rat during repeated chloroquine administration.

The effect of chronic administration of chloroquine phosphate on the urinary excretion of proteins and selected enzymes was investigated in male rats. Urinary volume and protein levels were both increased. Alkaline phosphatase activity was markedly raised after 12 h, while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities were moderately elevated. These observations suggest that chronic chloroquine administration to rats might impair renal reabsorptive functions, interfere with the properties of some membrane-bound enzymes and alter the membrane permeability of the various organelles in renal cells.