Renal amino acid transport in immature and adult rats during thallium-induced nephrotoxicity.

The effect of Tl2SO4 (Tl, 2 mg/100 g b.wt.) on renal amino acid excretion and plasma amino acid composition was investigated in 10- and 55-day-old rats. Tl decreased glomerular filtration rate only in adult rats. On the other hand, the renal fractional excretion (FE) of amino acids was distinctly higher in adult rats as a sign of lower amino acid reabsorption capacity after Tl. In immature animals FE was increased only for a few amino acids. However, in both age groups Tl administration significantly decreased plasma amino acid concentrations, and was more pronounced in immature rats. The investigation of renal amino acid handling (1) confirms that Tl was more nephrotoxic in 55-day-old animals as demonstrated before using other parameters for nephrotoxicity testing and (2) showed that determination of renal amino acid handling is a suitable marker for nephrotoxicity in adult rats.