The role of phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase in renal toxicity
A.C.L. Nobrea, G.R. Coeˆlhoa, M.C.M. Coutinhoa, M.M.M. Silvaa, E.V. Angelima,
D.B. Menezesb, M.C. Fontelesc, H.S.A. Monteiroa,*
aDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceara, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1127, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
bDepartment of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Rua Monsenhor Furtado, S/N,
cCeara State University, Av. Paranjana, 1700, Campus do Itaperi, 60740-000 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Received 14 February 2000; accepted 12 June 2000
Abstract
We have shown previously that exposure to microcystin-LR (MCLR) causes renal toxic effects in isolated perfused rat
kidney. That study was extended further to approach the perspective of pharmacological blockade of renal toxic effects byMCLR through the use of experimental therapeutic agents. An isolated kidney perfusion system was utilized and samples ofurine and perfusate were collected at 10 min intervals to determine the levels of inulin, sodium, potassium and osmolality. Dexamethasone (20 mg mlϪ1) and indomethacin (10 mg mlϪ1) were administered in the beginning of the perfusion and MCLRwas employed in a dose of 1 mg mlϪ1 after an internal control of 30 min to evaluate the perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascularresistance (RVR), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary flow (UF). Dexamethasone and indomethacin antagonized thetoxic effects of MCLR on PP, RVR, GFR and UF. Histologic analysis of dexamethasone and indomethacin treated groups didnot show any vascular or interstitial alterations. MCLR potentially impairs the renal function, probably causing vascular andglomerular lesions and, promoting renal alterations through direct or indirect actions. These data seem to indicate that the renalalterations promoted by MCLR involves also phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid-derived mediators. ᭧ 2000 ElsevierScience Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Microcistin-LR; Perfused kidney; Dexamethasone; Indomethacin
There are few papers in the literature that show the effect
the proximal tubular epithelium with slight tubular dilata-
of microcystin-LR (MCLR) in the renal system. Radbergh et
tion (Hooser et al., 1989) and cellular damage were also
al. (1991) have shown degenerative changes in the tubular
found in glomeruli and tubules (Radbergh et al., 1991).
epithelial cells, glomeruli and interstitial tissue in kidneys of
The utilization of the perfusion system of isolated kidney
carps exposed to MCLR, via intraperitoneal. In contrast to
permits the study of the direct effect of toxin without
what occurs in fish, which presents more severe changes,
systemic interference. Our laboratory showed that MCLR
renal damages are seldom observed in mice and this can be
is capable of changing the kidney functional parameters
explained by the survival time to lethal dose. Kotak et al.
(perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistance (RVR),
(1996) showed renal lesions in fishes (Oncorhynchus
glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urinary flow (UF)) in
mykiss) that consisted of coagulative tubular necrosis and
isolated perfused rat kidney (Nobre et al., 1999). The scope
dilatation of Bowman’s space. Glomerular capillaries were
of this work was to approach the perspective of pharmaco-
filled with eosinophilic fibrillary material after nine hours of
logical blockade through the use of experimental therapeutic
exposure to MCLR. There has been a mild vacuolization of
MCLR (Sigma Chemical Co., Saint Louis, MO, USA;
Molecular mass 995.2) was used in the current experiments
* Corresponding author. Fax: ϩ55-85-2815212. E-mail address: [email protected] (H.S.A. Monteiro).
obtained from Microcystis aeruginosa. Adult Wistar rats of
0041-0101/00/$ - see front matter ᭧ 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 0 4 1 - 0 1 0 1 ( 0 0 ) 0 0 1 9 3 - 8
A.C.L. Nobre et al. / Toxicon 39 (2001) 721–724
Table 1Effects of dexamethasone and indomethacin in the renal toxicity caused by MCLR in perfused rat kidney (Results are expressed as means ^SEM of Control kidneys (n 7) versus MCLR treated kidneys (n 7) and treated as: MCLR microcystin-LR (1 mg mlϪ1); Dexa dexamethasona (20 mg mlϪ1); Indo indomethacin (10 mg mlϪ1). PP perfusion pressure; RVR renal vascular resistance; UF urinaryflow; GFR glomerular filtration rate. The first 30 min represent the internal control for each group)
a Significance in relation to control (p Ͻ 0,05).
b Significance in relation to treated group with MCLR (p Ͻ 0,05), compared by ANOVA (Bonferroni test).
both sexes weighing 250–280 g were anesthetized with
pentobarbital sodium (50 mg kgϪ1 body weight ip). Before
(10 mg mlϪ1) studies were initiated before an internal
the experiment, the animals were fasted for 24 h with access
control of 30 min, and MCLR (1 mg mlϪ1) after an internal
to water ad libitum. The right renal artery was cannulated as
control, and observations were made during the next 90 min.
described by Bahlmann et al. (1967), Nishiitsutji-Uwo et al.
Naϩ and Kϩ were determined by flame photometry (Flame
(1967) and Ross (1978). The perfusate was a modified
Photometer IL, Model 445), and inulin was analyzed
Krebs–Henseleit solution with the following composition
according to Walson et al. (1955) as modified by Fonteles
in mmol lϪ1: Naϩ 147, Kϩ 5, Caϩϩ 2.5, Mgϩϩ 2, ClϪ 110,
et al. (1998). Osmolality of the samples was measured in an
Advanced Instruments osmometer (Needham Heights, MA).
urea and 0.075 g inulin. Six grams of bovine serum albumin
After the renal perfusion a histologic evaluation of kidneys
(BSA fraction V, Sigma) were added to the solution after a
was made by optical microscopy. Dexamethasone was
previous dialysis for 48 h at 4ЊC in 1.5 l of Krebs. The pH
acquired from Merck and CO., Inc (EUA) and indomethacin
was then adjusted to 7.4. Total perfusate used per experi-
The data were presented as mean ^ S.E.M. At least seven
The perfused rat kidney model followed the method of
different animals were used for each data point. Data were
Bowman (1970) as modified by Fonteles et al. (1983, 1998).
analyzed by ANOVA (Bonferroni test). For statistical
The system was calibrated for flow and resistance before
purposes, p Ͻ 0:05 was considered significant.
each experiment. The rate of perfusion flow was maintained
Previous results showed that infusion of 1 mg mlϪ1 of
of 25–35 ml minϪ1 per kidney. The first 30 min of perfusion
MCLR after 30 min of internal control caused alterations
were considered to be an internal control. Each experiment
of renal functional parameters (Nobre et al., 1999).
was divided into four periods of 30 min; these periods were
Dexamethasone (20 mg mlϪ1) showed a capacity of
further subdivided into equal intervals of 10 min. During
reverting the renal changes promoted by MCLR when
each 10 min period, samples of perfusate and urine were
compared to the control group and internal control
collected for determinations of sodium, potassium, inulin
(Table 1). The drug was able to antagonize in a significant
manner p Ͻ 0:05 the effect on the PP, RVR, UF and GFR
A.C.L. Nobre et al. / Toxicon 39 (2001) 721–724
at 60, 90 and 120 min. Indomethacin at the dose of
1998). In our experiments we have observed that MCLR
10 mg mlϪ1 was able to protect the kidneys from the toxic
seems to induce the activation of phospholipase A2 and
effects of MCLR as compared with the control group and the
cyclooxygenase as its effects were blocked by dexamethasone
internal control group (Table 1). A significant reversion of
and indomethacin; this mechanism is similar to the hepatic
the effects of MCLR on the PP, RVR, UF and GFR at 60, 90
effect. It is supposed that this renal change occurs probably
by damaging both vascular and glomerular sites.
Nobre et al. (1999) showed an intense amount of protei-
naceous material in the urinary spaces following perfusionwith MCLR. Proteinaceous material was not seen in the
Acknowledgements
tubules or urinary space of kidneys pretreated with dexa-methasone and indomethacin, nor were there any abnorm-
Acknowledgments are made to Maria Sı´lvia Helena
alities in the renal vessels and interstitium, suggesting a
Freire Franc¸a and Domingos Barreto Oliveira for technical
protective effect of these substances.
assistance. This research was supported by CNPq and
Naseem et al. (1990) evaluated the effects of glucocorti-
coids in the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolitesinduced by MCLR in rat hepatocytes. They showed thatfluorcinolone, dexamethasone and hydrocortisone suppress
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