Effects of reserpine and l-cysteine and glutathione depletion on 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide-induced tubular necrosis in Swiss ICR mice

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Female Swiss ICR mice were injected ip with 100 or 300 mg 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide (BEA)/kg body weight. Male Swiss ICR mice were subjected to water deprivation, or treated with 5% dextrose in water, dimethylsulphoxide, piperonyl butoxide, SKF-525A, sodium phenobarbital, β-naphthoflavone, probenecid, reserpine, diethyl maleate, buthionine sulphoximine or l-cysteine. Urine collected sequentially from male Swiss ICR mice given 300 mg BEA/kg body weight was analysed for glucose, protein, pH and specific gravity. Female mice were less sensitive to BEA than were male mice. Diuresis, antidiuresis, treatment with cytochrome P-450 inducers and inhibitors, and the antioxidant dimethylsulphoxide had no effect on the incidence or severity of tubular necrosis (TN) induced by BEA. Probenecid and l-cysteine decreased the severity, but they had no effect on the incidence of TN. Glutathione depletion by diethyl maleate and inhibition of glutathione synthesis by buthionine sulphoximine decreased the dose of BEA necessary to cause TN; buthionine sulphoximine was more effective than diethyl maleate. Reserpine decreased both the incidence and severity of TN. Glycosuria, aciduria and decreased urinary specific gravity occurred before morphological changes were seen under the microscope, indicating that the functional changes precede the morphological changes. These data indicate that glutathione is important in protecting against BEA-induced TN, that BEA or a metabolite is concentrated in the tubule epithelium by way of anion transport, and that vasoconstriction contributes to the development of BEA-induced TN.