This study was undertaken to determine if Juglans sinensis Dode, an oriental medicinal herb, extract (JSE) and antioxidant exert beneficial effect against mercury-induced acute renal failure in rabbits. Acute renal failure was induced by subcutaneous injection of mercury chloride (10 mg/kg), and animals were pretreated with JSE (0.1 g/kg, orally) for 7 days or N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (0.5 g/kg, i.p.) 24 h prior to the injection of mercury chloride. Urine and blood samples were collected for 24 h before (the basal period) and after the administration of mercury chloride. Urine volume and GFR in mercury chloride-injected animals were decreased as compared with the basal values, which were accompanied by the increase in serum creatinine levels and fractional excretion of Na(+), indicating that the administration of mercury chloride produces acute renal failure. p-Aminohippurate uptake by renal cortical slices was inhibited by mercury chloride injection. Mercury chloride treatment in vivo increased lipid peroxidation in renal cortical tissues. Such changes were significantly prevented by JSE pretreatment. Mercury chloride-induced acute renal failure was also prevented by an antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine. Mercury chloride treatment in vitro increased lactate dehydrogenase release and lipid peroxidation in renal cortical slices, which were prevented by JSE. These results indicate that JSE exerts the beneficial effect against mercury chloride-induced acute renal failure and its effect may be due to antioxidant action. In addition, these results suggest that lipid peroxidation is responsible for the cell injury induced by mercury chloride in vivo and in vitro.
Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.