PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF THIOURACIL AND DIBENAMINE AGAINST RENAL INJURY DUE TO CHOLINE DEFICIENCY: INFLUENCE OF ENDOCRINE AND AUTONOMIC SYSTEMS

¹ Laboratory of Metabolism, National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, Federal Security Agency, Bethesda, Maryland

Dibenamine injections, which induced both adrenergic blockade and an "alarm reaction", decreased the incidence of renal lesions due to choline deficiency in rats.

The renal lesions were not definitely influenced by neostigmine, atropine, oral Dibenzyline, or surgical denervation of the kidneys, thus casting doubt upon any explanation of the protective effect of Dibenamine based upon its adrenergic blocking action. Furthermore, no evidence was produced that the renal lesions were preceded by, or caused by, disturbances in the autonomic nervous system.

Formaldehyde, cortisone, and perhaps other irritating substances and ACTH, were protective, suggesting that the protective action of Dibenamine may have been at least in part a result of its irritating effect. However, Dibenamine was more effective than these other substances.

Thiouracil afforded a high degree of protection which appeared to be partially counteracted by simultaneous administration of thyroid. The incidence of renal lesions also appeared to be reduced to some extent by stilbesterol.