Lysosomal damage and its possible relationship with mitochondrial lesion in rat kidney under obstructive jaundice

Abstract

Lysosomal lesions consisting of an increase of the unsedimentable activity of acid hydrolases (acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase) have been demonstrated in early stages of rat cholemic tubulonephrosis. The release of lysosomal enzymes occurs earlier than the mitochondrial alterations, as shown by succinate and glutamate oxidation ratio. The demonstration of early changes in lysosomes, prior to evidence of mitochondrial injury, raises the possibility that lysosomal damage plays a role in initiating parenchymal lesions in rat kidney under obstructive jaundice.