Renal toxicity of aristolochic acid in rats as an example of nephrotoxicity testing in routine toxicology

The nephrotoxic action of aristolochic acid (AA) was investigated in female Wistar rats given single doses of 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg by gastric tube. Renal lesions developed within 3 days, the effect being dose-dependent. Histologically, there was evidence of necrosis of the epithelium of the renal tubules, and functionally, there were rises in plasma creatinine and urea together with increases in urinary glucose, protein, N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, gammaglutamyl transferase and malate dehydrogenase. Taking AA as an example, the aim of the present study was to consider the suitability of this model, based on a combination of histology and laboratory investigations, as a short-term test for the detection of nephrotoxic agents.