Morphologic changes in uranyl nitrate-induced acute renal failure in saline- and water-drinking rats

The sequential changes in renal morphology that occurred for 5 subsequent days after a subcutaneous injection of uranyl nitrate (10 mg. per kg.) were examined in saline- and water-drinking rats using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The cortical proximal tubule exhibited diffuse focal brush border loss and increased vacuolization by 1 hour after administration of the nephrotoxin. By 5 days, the P2 and P3 segments were completely necrotic. Cells of P1 segments accumulated large vacuoles throughout their cytoplasm, and distal nephron segments exhibited considerable cellular swelling and vacuolization. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormalities in glomerular epithelial cells similar to those seen in humans with chronic renal disease and in experimental animal models characterized by proteinuria. There was essentially no difference in the morphologic response of saline- and water-drinking rats. Although uranyl nitrate administered at this dosage resulted in the relatively slow development of tubular necrosis, changes in renal morphology could be seen within an hour and progressed insidiously throughout the study with little evidence of regeneration.