The model of nephrotic syndrome induced by mercury intoxication in rats

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-1949.2015.05.016

Abstract：Objective The present study aims to establish a model of nephrotic syndrome induced by mercury intoxication, in order to provide stable and scientific platform for clinical relevant treatment.Methods Twenty-four male BN rats were randomly divided into four groups, including three model groups( n=18) and a control group( n=6) .The rats in the three model groups were given respectively mercuric chloride solution by subcutaneous injection of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg and the control group was given a subcutaneous injection of saline, all the rats were given once every other day. By monitored the urine protein, blood biochemical indicators, mercury pontent, pathological section after injected for 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 days, we identified 1.0 mg/kg was the right dose to establish the model. Another 24 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, according to the above method the including 18 rats were all injected in 1 mg/kg mercury chloride, the other 6 rats were for the control group.On day 15, 22 and 36 the rats were sacrificed and rat kidneys were sampled to monitor the mercury content in order to observe the accumulation of mercury in the kidney.Results Fourteen days after mercury injection, high proteinuria, low albumin, hyperlipidemia and edema occurred in three model groups, and obvious pathological change of kidney damage was also shown in three model groups.Mercury content in blood and urine showed there was obvious dose -effect relationship.Compared with the control group, the related symptoms were the most prominent and stable with 1mg/kg dose group.There was a typical pathological types with nephrotic syndrome under light microscope with 1 mg/kg dose group and mercury accumulation in kidney tissues after stopped the injection.Conclusion It may be a reliable model of nephrotic syndrome induced by mercury intoxication in BN rats, which are injected subcutaneously with 1 mg/kg mercuric chloride solution once every other day for two weeks.