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1845. Uranium and the kidney
THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT
695
IlI, equivalent to 6.1, 4.6, 0-61 or 0.46 mg I/kg, showed miosis, watering and hyperaemia of the conjunctiva immediately after application, erythema and oedema of the eyelids after 3 hr and decreased corneal hyalescence and opalescence of the aqueous humour after 12 hr. Within 1-5 days, eschars, ulcerations, papules, haemorrhages and small necroses were seen at all levels; purulent ulcer formation, complete corneal opacities and deformation of the eyelids occurred with the 10 Yo solutions. At autopsy the brain and abdominal organs were hyperaemic and histological findings confirmed the corneal necrosis and oedema of the sclera. Skin damage occurred around the eyes, involving necrosis of the epidermis extending into the subcutaneous layers, neutrophilic infiltration, thrombosed capillaries and some granulation tissue. Again the control groups were without effect. No other reports of damage to the eye by I have been found and although differences exist between the animal and human eye, these results provide an indication of the possible harmful effects of this compound. 1845. Uranium and the kidney
Nomiyama, K. & Foulkes, E. C. (I 968). Some effects of uranyl acetate on proximal tubular function in rabbit kidney. Toxic. appl. Pharmac. 13, 89. The toxicity of uranium and its salts to biological systems has been well documented (Cited in F.C.T. 1967, 5, 211). The kidney is the main target organ and extensive morphological and functional damage to the proximal tubule was reported by Bobey et al. (Am. J. Physiol. 1943, 139, 155). The present paper reports part of a re-investigation into the renal toxicity of uranium in the rabbit. Renal failure was assessed in male albino rabbits 2 days after an intravenous injection of uranyl acetate equivalent to 0.2 mg uranium/kg body weight. Urine was collected through an indwelling bladder catheter. The treated animals showed decreased inulin clearance and an even greater depression in creatine and mannitol clearances, suggesting that back-diffusion of the tubular contents may contribute to the observed depression in glomerular filtration rate. It is known that the diffusion coefficient of creatine exceeds that of inulin by a factor of 5 but the clearance ratio in the treated animals was depressed to 0.8 compared with 1.0 in the controls. Tubular function was measured by estimating the maximal tubular capacity for p-aminohippurate (PAH) secretion and for glucose reabsorption. Significantly decreased values were recorded in the treated animals, indicating a cytotoxic effect at this dosage. Higher doses caused a complete shut-down in the tubule. Analysis in vitro of the transport kinetics of PAH from the interstitial fluid across the peritubular membrane into the epithelial cells and then across the luminal membrane into the tubules, showed that PAH transport was inhibited across the peritubular membrane and its reverse efl]ux was markedly suppressed. The rate of PAH flow from the cells across the luminal membrane was not, however, affected, indicating that the major lesion in the tubule was located at the peritubular membrane. It has been postulated that binding of the uranyl ion with plasma constituents prevents interaction of uranium with the peritubular membrane and that damage to the luminal membrane follows glomerular filtration and breakdown of the bicarbonate complex. Some review of these mechanisms seems to be necessary in the light of the present findings. 1846. Working with cyanoaerylate
McGee, W. A., Oglesby, F. L., Raleigh, R. L. & Fassett, D. W. (1968). The determinatiort of a sensory response to alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate vapor in air. Am. ind. Hyg. Ass. J. 29, 558. F.C.T. 7/6----'-K
695
IlI, equivalent to 6.1, 4.6, 0-61 or 0.46 mg I/kg, showed miosis, watering and hyperaemia of the conjunctiva immediately after application, erythema and oedema of the eyelids after 3 hr and decreased corneal hyalescence and opalescence of the aqueous humour after 12 hr. Within 1-5 days, eschars, ulcerations, papules, haemorrhages and small necroses were seen at all levels; purulent ulcer formation, complete corneal opacities and deformation of the eyelids occurred with the 10 Yo solutions. At autopsy the brain and abdominal organs were hyperaemic and histological findings confirmed the corneal necrosis and oedema of the sclera. Skin damage occurred around the eyes, involving necrosis of the epidermis extending into the subcutaneous layers, neutrophilic infiltration, thrombosed capillaries and some granulation tissue. Again the control groups were without effect. No other reports of damage to the eye by I have been found and although differences exist between the animal and human eye, these results provide an indication of the possible harmful effects of this compound. 1845. Uranium and the kidney
Nomiyama, K. & Foulkes, E. C. (I 968). Some effects of uranyl acetate on proximal tubular function in rabbit kidney. Toxic. appl. Pharmac. 13, 89. The toxicity of uranium and its salts to biological systems has been well documented (Cited in F.C.T. 1967, 5, 211). The kidney is the main target organ and extensive morphological and functional damage to the proximal tubule was reported by Bobey et al. (Am. J. Physiol. 1943, 139, 155). The present paper reports part of a re-investigation into the renal toxicity of uranium in the rabbit. Renal failure was assessed in male albino rabbits 2 days after an intravenous injection of uranyl acetate equivalent to 0.2 mg uranium/kg body weight. Urine was collected through an indwelling bladder catheter. The treated animals showed decreased inulin clearance and an even greater depression in creatine and mannitol clearances, suggesting that back-diffusion of the tubular contents may contribute to the observed depression in glomerular filtration rate. It is known that the diffusion coefficient of creatine exceeds that of inulin by a factor of 5 but the clearance ratio in the treated animals was depressed to 0.8 compared with 1.0 in the controls. Tubular function was measured by estimating the maximal tubular capacity for p-aminohippurate (PAH) secretion and for glucose reabsorption. Significantly decreased values were recorded in the treated animals, indicating a cytotoxic effect at this dosage. Higher doses caused a complete shut-down in the tubule. Analysis in vitro of the transport kinetics of PAH from the interstitial fluid across the peritubular membrane into the epithelial cells and then across the luminal membrane into the tubules, showed that PAH transport was inhibited across the peritubular membrane and its reverse efl]ux was markedly suppressed. The rate of PAH flow from the cells across the luminal membrane was not, however, affected, indicating that the major lesion in the tubule was located at the peritubular membrane. It has been postulated that binding of the uranyl ion with plasma constituents prevents interaction of uranium with the peritubular membrane and that damage to the luminal membrane follows glomerular filtration and breakdown of the bicarbonate complex. Some review of these mechanisms seems to be necessary in the light of the present findings. 1846. Working with cyanoaerylate
McGee, W. A., Oglesby, F. L., Raleigh, R. L. & Fassett, D. W. (1968). The determinatiort of a sensory response to alkyl 2-cyanoacrylate vapor in air. Am. ind. Hyg. Ass. J. 29, 558. F.C.T. 7/6----'-K