Effects of acute and sub-chronic administration of iron nitrilotriacetate in the rat.

Parenteral administration of iron nitrilotriacetate (FeNTA) to rats resulted in marked loss in body weight, and increases in liver/and kidney/body weight ratios. Fatalities, due to renal failure, depended on dosage and age of the animals, and were greater (70%) after a single large dose (12 mg iron) than after repeated smaller doses (30%). FeNTA administered subchronically gave rise to an increase in ethane exhalation, and to decreased liver glutathione peroxidase activity, and decreased cytochrome P-450 concentration and benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. It also resulted in severe renal tubular necrosis, with deposition of iron in the tubular cells and loss of brush border alkaline phosphatase activity, resulting in a dose-dependent diuresis, with increased urinary excretion of glucose, iron and lipid peroxidation products, and decreased urine creatinine concentration. NTA alone had none of these effects but slightly decreased the hepatic concentration of iron.