[Functional and histologic changes in the kidney in copper poisoning in rats]

The acute intoxication (by intraperitoneal way) and chronic intoxication (by inhalation, during one year) were carried out with pure copper. On the basis of experimental studies, it was established that the kidney was a critical organ in copper intoxication. On all rats acutely intoxicated damages of the function (similar to Fanconi's syndrome in Wilson's disease), diffuse pathologic lesions and presence of fine copper particles in protoplasm of proximal tubule epithelial cells, were found. By chronic intoxication it was proved that the organism could be loaded with copper through inhalation of copper particles. In chronic intoxication damages of renal functions were insignificant, but very heavy pathohistologic lesions were only focal and they influenced glomerules, proximal tubules, initial parts of Henle's loop and interstice. Copper was found in the form of strip-like deposits in glomerules and proximal tubule basal membrane, then in the form of fine and coarse granules in protoplasm of proximal tubule epithelial cells.