The behavior and chemical toxicity of U in the kidney: a reassessment

By the late 1950s, the views had evolved that 1) U does not enter cells but damages the kidneys by binding to the luminal membranes of renal tubular cells, interfering with reabsorption of glucose, sodium, amino acids, protein, water, and other substances, and causing slow cell death by suppression of respiration; and 2) U does not cause significant damage to the kidneys at concentrations below 3 micrograms U g-1 kidney. Although there has not been a major unified effort in the past three decades to update the toxicology of U as a nephrotoxin, there have been numerous isolated studies that may be useful in reevaluating these longstanding views on the behavior and action of U in the kidneys and the renal U concentration at which toxic effects may become evident. This paper is a brief review and synthesis of current information on U nephrotoxicity. Much more experimental research and reevaluation of existing data are needed concerning U nephrotoxicity, particularly for the case of chronic exposure.