Carbon tetrachloride nephrotoxicity in rats with reduced renal mass.

Long-term administration of carbon tetrachloride to rats has produced proteinuria and histopathologic glomerular alterations. The present study was done to determine the effect of prior reduction of renal mass on the long-term nephrotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride. Female Sprague-Dawley rats with uninephrectomy received twice-weekly intraperitoneal injections of either corn oil or corn oil with 0.05 to 0.1 ml carbon tetrachloride. Rats were studied for up to 36 weeks. Increased urinary protein and albumin excretion was noted in the rats receiving carbon tetrachloride after ten weeks. Glomerular abnormalities were noted only in rats receiving carbon tetrachloride. Glomeruli were focally sclerotic with large electron-dense deposits within capillary lumina. Visceral epithelial cell injury was also frequently seen. Tubulointerstitial alterations were also more frequent in animals given carbon tetrachloride. Reduced renal mass may enhance the long-term nephrotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride.