Polyvinyl alcohol toxicosis as a model of glomerulonephritis in Beagle dogs

Investigation of pharmacokinetics of certain drugs in experimental models of glomerulonephritis would facilitate development of dose schedules for dogs with this disease. Polymerized polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-induced glomerulonephritis was investigated in healthy, 15-week-old purebred Beagle dogs. Three dogs were injected daily with 20 ml of 5% (w/v) PVA (125,000 molecular weight, 88% hydrolyzed) in phosphate-buffered saline solution. One control was given only phosphate-buffered saline solution. Determinations were made of complete blood count, PCV, serum urea nitrogen, specific gravity, urine pH, and protein. Tissue specimens were taken for light microscopic and electron microscopic examinations. Injections were stopped after 3 weeks due to severe CNS depression and anemia in the principals. Proteinuria appeared shortly before dogs were euthanatized, but there were no other signs of renal disease. The dominant lesions were foam cell formation in glomeruli and diffuse vacuolation of splenic red pulp cells. Lesions were also visible in electron microscopic sections of glomeruli. Abnormalities were not observed in the control dog. Due to the severity of the nonrenal lesions, PVA (the type used here) is not useful for creating a model of renal disease in dogs.