Renal function in the rat after treatment with mercuric chloride plus potassium dichromate.

The treatment of rats with single subcutaneous (sc) doses of mercuric chloride (4 mg/kg) plus potassium dichromate (10 mg/kg) resulted in greater effects on water consumption, urine volume, body weight, and urinary electrolyte excretion than produced by mercuric chloride alone. The dose of potassium dichromate alone had no effects on renal function. Urine volume at 6 hr was increased twofold over mercuric chloride alone. Similarly, potassium excretion by these animals at 6 hr was significantly decreased compared to controls. These animals were oliguric by 24 hr after the injection. Urine osmolality of rats receiving the combination of the metals remained lower than controls throughout the 4-day experimental period. Measurement of renal arterial blood flow by electromagnetic flow probe after subcutaneous injection of saline, mercuric chloride (4 mg/kg), potassium dichromate (10 mg/kg), or the combination, produced no change over a 2.5-hr period, at 24 hr, and at 48 hr, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of these rats was not affected over the same period of time.