Lithium 투여가 흰쥐의 신장에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구 = The Effects of Lithium on the Kidney of the Rat

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Lithium, an element ion, has been used in the psychiatric field to manic illness but in brings nephritis, diabetes insipidus and nephrotic syndrome. Most of the studies on the nephrotoxicity were described only in the morphological aspects, and functional study was unclarified. This study was carried out to observe lithium nephrotoxicity in both functional and morphological aspects. The lithium carbonate was administered to rat peritoneum(50mg/Kg) daily for 10, 20, 30 and 40 days. The urinw pH and proteinuria were measured and the kindney tissue was observed with light and electron microscopy.
The results are as follow :
1. The urine pH was 5.5-7.0(normal 7.5-8.5) in the groups of lithium administration longer than 10 days.
2. The albuminuria (+) was observed in the groups of lithium administration longer than 10 days, but the severity of proteinuria was not related to duration of administration.
3. The proximal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts were dilated with epithelial cell degeneration in the experimental group of lithium administration for longer than 10 days.
4. The AgNORs in the tubular epithelial cells were markedly increased in number but those in the mesangium showed only slight increase in the experimental group of lithium administration for longer than 10 days.
5. The glomerular basement membrances were focally thickened and the epithelial foot processes were fused in the experimental group of lithium administration for longer than 10 days.
The above results indicate that lithium thought to be toxic to the kidney causing not only functional but also morphological derangement. The renal functions of the patients under lithium regimen should be carefully mornitored to avoid nephrotoxicity, and further studies would be necessory to elucidate the precise mechanisms of lithium nephrotoxicity.