Glycine prevents toxic tubular cell injury

Glycine prevents tubular injury as suggested by in vitro cell culture studies, studies in the isolated perfused kidney, and in vivo studies. We have previously demonstrated that intratubular administration of uranyl nitrate (UN) produces proximal tubular cell injury and decreases proximal tubular reabsorption (APR). The decrease in APR activates tubuloglomerular feedback and lowers nephron filtration rate (SNGFR). This study was designed to evaluate if glycine administration could prevent the decrease in SNGFR after UN administration and if maintenance of SNGFR was due to tubular cell cytoprotection or suppression of the tubuloglomerular feedback. Administration of 0.65 ng of UN into the early proximal tubule was associated with a decrease in distal SNGFR (SNGFRD) from 29 +/- 2 to 24 +/- 2 nL/min (p < .05) and late proximal SNGFR (SNGFRLP) from 37 +/- 2 to 26 +/- 2 nL/min, and APR from 14 +/- 1 to 10 +/- 1 nL/min. Systemic administration of glycine (20 g/dL, 1.4 mL/h) was associated with significant increases in SNGFRD and SNGFRLP, and APR (38 +/- 3, 44 +/- 3, and 15 +/- 2 nL/min). UN administration did not affect APR or SNGFR in glycine-treated rats. These findings demonstrate that glycine prevents UN-induced decreases in SNGFR through a cytoprotective effect on proximal tubular cells.