EFFECT OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE ON KIDNEY AMIDINOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY.docVIP

ORIGINALNI NAU?NI RADOVI EFFECT OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE ON KIDNEY AMIDINOTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY Jelenka Nikolic*, Du?an Sokolovi?* and Boris Djindjic** L-Arginine-:glycine amidinotransferase (EC ) catalyzes the transfer of an amidino group from arginine to glycine to form guanidinoacetate, precursor in creatine synthesis. The kid- neys are major site of the creatine synthesis and primary target organs for mercury toxicity. In evaluation of molecular mechanisms of mercury chloride intoxication relating to creatine metabo- lism we have investigated the enzyme activity in kidney tissue after mercury chloride administra- tion. Acute renal failure was induced by i.p administration of mercury chloride in a dose of 3 mg/kg to male Spraque Dawley rats weighing about 200 g. The results of our study indicate an acute renal failure 24 hours after mercury chloride administration. Urea and creatinine levels in blood plasma were significantly elevated compared to control group (p0.001). Amidinotransferase activity in kidney tissue was depressed, while, in plasma of intoxicated rats activity of enzyme was increased (p0.001). The obtained results indicate that mercury chloride has strong nephrotoxic effect. De- pressed amidinotransferase activity and decreased production of guanidinoacetate, initial product in creatine synthesis, may be implicated in neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity and muscle damage in mercury intoxication, because creatine and its phosphorylated form creatine phosphate play an im- portant role in the energy metabolism. Acta Medica Medianae 2004; 43(2):5-8. Key words: mercury chloride, kidney, amidinotransferase, urea, creatinine, creatine Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Nis* Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nis* * cular system. Chronic exposure leads to neurodegen- erative disorders like Alzheimers diseases, Parkinsons diseases, autism, irnmunomodulation, dermatitis, re- productive failure, chronic