ROLE OF GLUTATHIONE METABOLISM IN THE REDUCTION OF PROTEINURIA BY DIMETHYLTHIOUREA IN ADRIAMYCIN NEPHROSIS

Glutathione (GSH) metabolism, a tissue detoxification pathway, was evaluated in rats with adriamycin nephrosis (AN) treated with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a free radical scavenger. After 7 days of DMTU, a significant reduction in proteinuria occurred as compared to AN controls (62.4+/-13.3 vs. 155.0+/-24.0 mg/24 h). A significant increase in renal cortical GSH content as well as glutathione peroxidase (GP) and transferase (GT) activities occurred in DMTU-treated rats as compared to controls. Glutathione monoethyl ester (GME) administration alone reduced proteinuria by 21% in AN, which was not significant despite a large increase in the renal GSH content, however, GP and GT activities were not increased by GME. We conclude that DMTU ameliorates glomerular injury in AN by stimulating GSH metabolism.