Toxic oil syndrome: a study of renal function in guinea pigs fed toxic oil

1. Comparative studies of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG, EC 3.2.1. 52) and beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1. 23) activities, protein concentration and creatinine clearance, were carried out in urine and kidney from guinea pigs treated with "toxic oil", orally administered under different conditions, related to controls. 2. Enzyme activities did not vary significantly in urine with any of the studied conditions of oil administration. By contrast, in kidney, beta-D-galactosidase disclosed a significant increase in all the treatments studied when compared to controls without treatment. 3. Urinary protein excretion, creatinine concentration and creatinine clearance were significantly greater in treated animals than in controls after 4 weeks of treatment. 4. Relative kidney weight (g/100 g body wt), was significantly lower in animals treated for 28 days with previously heated oil.