Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine if there are sex-related differences in the acute kidney injury induced by HgCl2 since female rats express lower levels of renal Oat1 and Oat3 (transporters involved in renal uptake of mercury) as compared with males. Control males and females and Hg-treated male and female Wistar rats were employed. Animals were treated with HgCl2 (4 mg/kg body weight (b.w.), intraperitoneal (i.p.)) 18 h before the experiments. HgCl2 induced renal impairment both in male and female rats. However, female rats showed a lower renal impairment than male rats. The observed increase in kidney weight/body weight ratio seen in male and female rats following HgCl2 treatment was less in the female rats. Urine volume and creatinine clearance decreased and Oat5 urinary excretion increased in both males and females, but to a lesser degree in the latter. Urinary alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity and histological parameters were modified in male but not in female rats after HgCl2 administration. These results indicate that the lower Oat1 and Oat3 expression in the kidney of females restricts Hg uptake into renal cells protecting them from this metal toxicity. These gender differences in renal injury induced by mercury are striking and also indicate that Oat1 and Oat3 are among the main transporters responsible for HgCl2-induced renal injury.
Highlights
IntroductionThe health effects of mercury are highly dependent on the different chemical forms of mercury
The health effects of mercury are highly dependent on the different chemical forms of mercury.Dental amalgam is the major source of mercury vapor exposure in the general population and an association between the number of amalgam fillings and the concentrations of inorganic mercury in blood and urine has been reported [1,2]
Oat1 and Oat3 expression in kidney from females restricts Hg uptake into renal cells protecting them from this metal toxicity. These gender differences in renal injury induced by mercury are striking and indicate that Oat1 and
Summary
The health effects of mercury are highly dependent on the different chemical forms of mercury. Dental amalgam is the major source of mercury vapor exposure in the general population and an association between the number of amalgam fillings and the concentrations of inorganic mercury in blood and urine has been reported [1,2]. Low concentrations of inorganic mercury are ingested in the diet, mainly as Hg2+. Occupational exposure occurs mainly in the chloralkali industries and in the gold mining industries [1,2,3]. High levels of mercury exposure may occur via the use of skin lightening beauty creams and soaps [3] and herbal drugs [4]. Sex-related differences in mercury handling in both animals and humans have been described
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