The nephrotoxic effect of the ototoxic compound atoxyl.

The arsenical compound atoxyl has been used in labyrinthine research because of its documented effects both on cells engaged in an active transport of ions (secretory epithelia) and sensory epithelia (cochlear hair cells and vestibular sensory cells type I and type II.) In the present experiments both the kidney and the structures of the inner ear were studied. The renal tubules were damaged by exposure to atoxyl. Tubular casts, haemorrhages (both in the tubules and in the renal calices) and tubular epithelial cell necrosis occurred. A common denominator in the ototoxic and the nephrotoxic actions of acute atoxyl poisoning might be a disturbance of the very active ion transport systems of the cells involved.