Resistance of the rat to development of lead-induced renal functional deficits.

Lead nephropathy, characterized functionally by depression of effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and maximum glucose reabsorption rate, is associated with prolonged occupational exposure to lead. Production of comparable lead-related renal functional deficits in rats has been difficult to achieve. We have examined in rats some of the factors that might be expected to influence the development of lead-induced renal functional damage, using GFR (as inulin clearance), ERPF (as para-aminohippurate clearance), and maximum glucose reabsorption rate as indices of renal functional competence. Although lead produces a significant weight loss, this can be accounted for by reduced food intake and is not associated with reduction in renal function. Even exposure to large amounts of lead in conjunction with other factors, such as controlled diet (NIH-07 and AIN-76) and early age of initial exposure, that might have been expected to increase the rats' susceptibility has not resulted in the development of renal functional deficits. It is unlikely that the rat can be successfully exploited as an animal model of human lead nephropathy with accompanying functional deficits.