Urinary enzyme assays in toxicological studies in the rat and marmoset.

The relative merits of the automated, fluorimetric assay of urinary enzymes and cell exfoliation were compared with other commonly used tests for renal damage. Two types of nephrotoxic agent were used, causing crystal nephropathy and acute tubular necrosis respectively. Groups of marmosets were given one of two drugs known to cause crystal nephropathy. One agent caused intermittent increases in urinary enzyme excretion and an early increase in cell excretion which was not sustained. The second agent in contrast caused elevated cell and enzyme excretion, increasing throughout the period of administration. A nephrotoxic anti-tumour agent also caused increases in cell and enzyme excretion when given to marmosets. The early changes produced by this agent were studied using catheterised rats. Hourly samples of urine were collected and urinary beta-glycosidase excretion was found to give an early indication of renal damage, which correlated with albuminuria and glycosuria. The fluorimetric assay of urinary enzymes provides a sensitive, non-invasive test of nephrotoxicity.