Abstract
The pollution caused by the military use of depleted uranium has raised increasing concern about its toxicity on children. Renal toxicity is the hallmark effect of uranium exposure. In the present study, the relationship between renal development and uranium distribution was examined in immature rats exposed to uranium acetate.
In the new born rats, the renal cortex and medulla are complicated in the kidney. Uranium was found in the innermost areas of the cortex. The kidneys achieve their adult zonation into a cortex, outer medulla, and the inner medulla at around 3 weeks of postnatal age. Uranium was localized in the inner cortex and the outer stripe of the outer medulla. The distribution of the S3 segment of the proximal tubules was corresponding to uranium distribution; the S3 segment was confined to the innermost areas of the cortex of the new born rats and spread to inner cortex and the outer stripe of the outer medulla of the young rats. The age-differences in uranium levels and damage in kidney was observed. Taken together, it suggest that the developments of S3 segments of the proximal tubules, which are selective-site of uranium accumulation, could be involved in the age-differences in the renal toxicity caused by uranium.
