EFFECT OF MERCURIC-CHLORIDE ON RENAL BRUSH-BORDER MEMBRANE

Alterations in the activities of five brush border enzymes were determined in the kidneys of rats with reversible HgCl2 acute renal failure. Alanine aminopeptidase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase levels fell to 50% or less of control and remained depressed despite restoration of glomerular filtration. Maltase activity initially increased then gradually declined to control values by Day 3 after HgCl2. ATPase activity showed a progressive rise to levels 3.1 times normal by Day 10 after HgCl2. Electrophoresis of SDS solubilized brush border membranes revealed distinct differences in protein distribution of normal vs HgCl2 treated rats. The results indicate that recovery of renal function precedes normalization of brush border enzyme activity and demonstrate considerable variation in the composition of the brush border during the course of HgCl2 acute renal failure. © 1979.