The effect of cyclophosphamide on the experimental inflammation induced by the toxic mushroom Cortinarius speciosissimus in the rat kidney.

A single intraperitoneal dose of cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg) given at the same time as an oral dose of Cortinarius speciosissimus prevented the renal inflammation induced by this toxic mushroom in the male rat. Furthermore, a scar formation around dilated collecting ducts was clearly reduced by cyclophosphamide treatment. In general the only lesions observed in the cyclophosphamide treated animals were dilated collecting ducts in the outer medullary zone, the epithelia of which were either in regenerative mitosis or were atrophic. Apparently the primary sites of action of Cortinarius toxins in male rats are the collecting ducts of the outer medullary zone. When inflammation and the subsequent scar formation is prevented by cyclophosphamide, the damaged tubules can regenerate by mitotic activity and perhaps restore normal function.