In vivo hydrogen peroxide production in rat remnant kidney

In the rat remnant kidney hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production is increased when compared to the normal kidney. The activities of the peroxisomal H2O2-producing oxidases, D-amino acid oxidase and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase, and of the extraperoxisomal superoxide dismutase are decreased in renal homogenate. The peroxisomal L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase and L-lactate oxidase as well as the peroxisomal H2O2 scavenger catalase preserve their activity. The activity of the cytosolic scavenging system, glutathione peroxidase, is decreased by 40%. A starvation period of 48 h does not produce a measurable increase in H2O2 production in the normal nor in the remnant kidney. On visual inspection, peroxisomal morphology and distribution in the renal tubules are similar in the normal and remnant kidney tissue.