Trichloroaniline effects on renal function in vivo and in vitro.

Previous studies have demonstrated that mono- and dichloroanilines are capable of inducing acute renal failure in vivo and altering organic ion accumulation by renal cortical slices in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine the nephrotoxic potential of 4 trichloroaniline (TCA) isomers in vivo and to examine their effects on organic ion accumulation in vitro. In the in vivo experiments, male Fischer-344 rats (4 rats/group) were administered a TCA (0.8 or 1.5 mmol/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) or vehicle (sesame oil, 2.5 ml/kg). Renal function was monitored at 24 and 48 h. None of the TCA isomers induced marked renal effects at either time point. In vitro, all TCA isomers were effective in decreasing tetraethylammonium and p-aminohippurate accumulation by renal cortical slices at bath concentrations of 10(-3) M with 2,3,4- and 3,4,5-TCA inducing the greatest reductions. These results indicate that TCA can have a direct effect on renal function in vitro, but that the isomers tested are less potent nephrotoxicants than the nephrotoxic mono- and dichloroanilines.