Abstract
In order to know and understand the mode and mechanism of action of gold containing drugs pathological studies on resorption, removal and discharge of the drug from the kidney should prove to be value.
Method of experiment:
Sorganal (Schering A. G. CO., Germany) containing organic gold was administered by intramuscular injection into rabbits which were divided into three groups.
i) group A......... (12.0 ml, 80 mg in all)
ii) group B......... (23.1 ml, 154 mg in all)
iii) group C......... (7.1 ml, 539.1 mg in all)
The morphological changes observed in the kidney were as follows:
1. Swelling of Malpighi tufts and exudate in Bowman's space were found in a slight grade in all cases of group A, but in groups B and C, these changes were of moderate grade with also edematous changes of intercapillary space.
2. Slight deposition of gold granules in glomeruli were seen in most cases of group A, but in groups B and C, all cases demonstrated deposition being marked in some cases.
3. Granular degeneration on proximal tubules were observed in all cases of each group being most conspicuous in group C.
Vacuolar degeneration occurred in some cases in group A slightly, but in groups B and C mostly, moderately.
4. Vacuolar degeneration of distal tubules was found in all groups. This change was especially remarkable in groups B and C. Two cases in group B revealed atrophy of tubular epithelia and 4 cases in group C showed necrosis.
5. All cases showed deposition of gold granules in epithelia of proximal tubules. This was especially remarkable in one case in group B, 3 cases in group C, and moderate in 4 cases in group C.
6. Deposition of gold granules in epithelia of distal tubules was of a milder degree as compared to that in proximal tubules.
7. Desquamation of necrotic epithelial cells containing gold granules was observed in the lumen of distal tubules in 2 cases.
8. The main changes in the present experiment were found in tubular epithelia being composed of vacuolar degeneration, atrophy and necrosis.
This condition was interpreted to be compatible with nephropathy accompanied by a stimulatory invasion to blood vessels.
