THE ACUTE EFFECT OF AN ORGANIC MERCURIAL ON THE RAT KIDNEY; A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

¹ The Veterans Administration Hospital and The Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana

The effect of meralluride was studied on a group of 5 renal tubular enzyme systems; succinic dehydrigenase, diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase, triphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and beta-glyeeryl-phosphatase. Reproducible patterns of inhibition or change in the distribution of enzymatic a ctivity were produced by varying dosages and periods of exposure. The suceptibility to change was strikingly similar in all 5 members of the group. In no instance was enzymatic activity modified without definite mercurial nephropathy being present on standard hematoxylin-cosin sections. The significance of these findings was discussed particularly in regard to the purported role of succinie dehydrogenase in mercurial pharmacology.