Acute acetaminophen nephrotoxicity and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in rats.

In order to determine the relationship between the nephrotoxicity of acetaminophen and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) excretion, a single dose of 900 mg/kg acetaminophen (APAP) was administered to rats intraperitoneally. Following drug administration, 24 hour urine was collected and the kidneys were removed under ether anesthesia for histological examination. GGT activity measurements and quantitative analysis for creatinine was carried out on urine samples. Urinary GGT activity in the APAP administered group (n = 12) (1.88 +/- 0.21 U/mg creatinine) was significantly higher than in the control group (n = 16) (0.77 +/- 0.05 U/mg creatinine) (p < 0.0002). Histological examination of the kidneys under light microscopy showed only very slight tissue damage. Further use of urinary GGT activity measurements in experimental nephrotoxicity studies has been suggested.