Nephrotoxicity of thiazoles structurally related to thiabendazole in mice depleted of glutathione by treatment with buthionine sulfoximine.

In mice depleted of glutathione (GSH) by treatment with DL-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), thiabendazole [2-(4'-thiazolyl)benzimidazole, TBZ] produces renal damage characterized by increases in relative kidney weight and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentration. Several thiazole and benzimidazole compounds related to TBZ were examined for the ability to cause nephrotoxicity in mice pretreated with BSO. 4-Methyl- and 4-phenylthiazoles were highly effective compounds. In the absence of BSO, 4-methylthiazole resulted in no nephrotoxicity; inhibitors of hepatic and renal cytochrome P-450 enzymes such as methoxsalen and piperonyl butoxide prevented the nephrotoxicity of 4-methylthiazole given in combination with BSO. In addition, there was a sex difference in the nephrotoxicity of 4-methylthiazole in combination with BSO; the nephrotoxicity was observed only in males. These features of nephrotoxicity of 4-methylthiazole are well in accord with those of TBZ previously reported. This suggests that TBZ and 4-methylthiazole share a common mechanism of nephrotoxicity.