The effect of repeated administration of berenil, a trypanocide, on urinary excretion of some enzyme activities in rat and their corresponding levels in the kidney and serum was investigated. Daily administration of this drug to rats resulted in increased urinary volume, excretion of protein, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. However, the level of acid phosphatase activity was not significantly increased while muramidase activity disappeared completely during the period of drug administration. In the kidney tissue, there was a significant loss of lactate dehydrogenase activity immediately after the first dose and this trend continued until the end of drug administration. In the same tissue, there was an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity while the lysosomal enzymes were not significantly affected. In the serum, except for the increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, all other enzymes were not significantly affected. All these results indicate that there is cellular damage to rat kidney as a result of repeated berenil administration, and that the plasma membrane and the soluble portion of the cytoplasm are the primary site of injury to the cells. They also suggest that urinary enzyme excretion could be useful in determining the site of cellular damage by chemical agents in kidneys.

1 The sequence of renal cellular membrane damage induced by gentamicin was studied in the rat by using the release of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, muramidase and protein from renal cells as indices of renal damage. 2 The protective effect of a combination of vitamin E and selenium against renal damage was also investigated. 3 Gentamicin (60 mg kg -1 body weight) was nephrotoxic within 12 h of the first dose. 4 The plasma membrane of the renal tubules is damaged before the lysosomal membrane is affected. 5 A combination of vitamin E (1 mg g-1 body weight) and selenium (4 × 10-3 mg g-1 body weight) attenuates the renal damage induced by gentamicin. Results suggest synergism between vitamin E and selenium in attenuating the renal damage. The possible mechanism of attenuation is discussed. 6 Vitamin E and selenium may have anti-diuretic potential.

The administration of chloroquine to rats resulted in a significant elevation of serum enzymes and a corresponding decrease of these enzymes in the tissues. The changes in serum and kidney enzymes were most marked, thus indicating a primary renal dysfunction.

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