Nephrotoxic effects of long-term carbon tetrachloride administration in rats

Rats were given biweekly injections of carbon tetrachloride for up to 34 weeks to investigate the long-term effects on the kidney. Nephrotoxicity was manifest by an increase in urinary protein and albumin excretion as compared with the values in control rats receiving corn oil. Differences in urinary protein excretion were significantly greater in female rats receiving carbon tetrachloride for 13 weeks. Unilateral nephrectomy accentuated proteinuria in female rats. Rats receiving carbon tetrachloride also had more glomerular sclerosis and dilated and cast-filled tubules than did control rats. Immumofluorescence revealed immunoglobulins without C3 in glomeruli of both control and experimental animals, but more fibrinogen in carbon tetrachloride-treated rats. These results suggest that long-term exposure to carbon tetrachloride can produce glomerular disease in rats and could possibly be glomerulotoxic in man.