Experimental studies on the elevation of urinary enzyme activities and its pathogenesis in acute renal failure

Abstract

The urinary activities of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and alanine aminopeptidase (AAP) are known to elevate markedly in initial phase of clinical acute renal failure (ARF). This study was performed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanism of the activation of these enzymes using experimental postischemic reperfusion ARF in rats. The relation between the levels of the lysosomal enzymes and lipid peroxidation induced by oxidant stress in these animal models was the main focus of this study. Renal ischemia was made by clamping renal artery for 30 minutes to create a complete ischemia and reflow. Catheterized urine was collected to measure changes of the activities of NAG. gamma-GTP and AAP from 60 to 480 minutes after reperfusion of the kidney. The activities of renal tissue glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), NAG and gamma-GTP, and the values of renal contents of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in each sample. It is already known that GSH redox cycle plays an important role in removing various hydroperoxides induced by oxidant stress, generating oxidated GSH from GSH in scavenging process. In order to confirm if GSH plays an important role in intrinsic anti-oxidant system in this model, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) which is gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase inhibitor, was administered intraperitoneally to decrease renal GSH contents before the procedure renal ischemia. The following results were obtained; 1) urinary activities of NAG, gamma-GTP and AAP were elevated markedly in GSH depleted rats compared with controls, 2) renal tissue activities of NAG were higher in BSO administered rats than controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)