Detection of diffuse glomerular lesions in rats: I. Comparisons of conventional radioactive agents

Conventional renal diagnostic agents, [131I]hippuran, [99mTc]glucoheptonate (GHA), and [99mTc] dimercaptosuccinate (DMS) were compared with [99mTc] or [111In] diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA) for the detection of glomerular damage in rats compared with controls. The glomerular lesions were induced by the i.v. injection of puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) 9 days before the radionuclide studies, a model of spontaneous "minimal change" glomerulonephritis in humans. Computer-generated early renal uptake of [99mTc]DTPA or GHA correlated with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) quantitated by biexponential plasma clearance of DTPA administered by single i.v. injection. The early renal uptake of hippuran and DMS correlated poorly with GFR as assessed by DTPA clearance. However, the 2-hr renal retention of DMS correlated well with the DTPA clearance. None of the parameters measured with [131I]hippuran correlated well with DTPA clearance, probably because of decreased protein plasma binding of hippuran secondary to hypoproteinemia in this experimental model. It was concluded that none of these agents was superior to labeled DTPA for the detection of glomerular damage in this experimental model.