THE NEPHROTOXIC ACTION OF SODIUM TETRATHIONATE

¹ Pharmacology Branch, Chemical Corps Medical Laboratories, Army Chemical Center, Maryland

Renal function tests were performed on rabbits before and after intravenous administration of doses of sodium tetrathionate ranging from 10 to 100 mgm./ kgm. The 10 mgm./kgm. dose had no appreciable effect on tubular transport of glucose and chloride. It did decrease the tubular excretory mass (para-aminohippurate) and glomerular filtration rate (inulin) to some extent. Higher doses of tetrathionate produced decreases in all these variables. The 100 mgm./kgm. dose lowered inulin clearance to about 10 per cent of the control value, tubular transport of chlorides to about 20 per cent, tubular excretory mass to 5 per cent and tubular transport of glucose to zero.

These data suggest that low doses of tetrathionate affect the glomerulus and the proximal tubule about equally. At higher doses of tetrathionate, the proximal tubule becomes more seriously affected. As the dose of tetrathionate is increased still further, the distal tubule becomes involved also.

The implication of these findings for the use of tetrathionate in the treatment of peripheral vascular disorders in humans is discussed.

The authors wish to acknowledge the valuable technical assistance of Mr. Harold Green, Mr. S. Richard Heisey and Mrs. Aurora Bransford in carrying out this study.