Protection by estrogenic hormone against nephrotoxicity induced by organic mercury

Summary An organic mercurial compound, MEMC has been studied for its toxic effect on the renal tubuli in male rats. In view of the slight degree of the renal failure in subacute MEMC poisoning, for its demonstration urinary transaminase activity was chosen. The increase of GOT-GPT were accompanied by the presence of large numbers of disintegrated tubular epithel cells in urine.These phenomena could be protected by treatment with estrogenic hormone, whereas the acute toxicity could not.