Polyamine metabolism in mouse kidney after administration of mercuric chloride.

Testosterone administration to gonadectomized male mice, besides giving rise to a distinct hypertrophy of the kidneys, results in a large increase in renal ornithine decarboxylase activity and accumulation of polyamines. Experiments were performed to examine the effects of localized renal injury caused by mercuric chloride administration on the polyamine metabolism in the testosterone stimulated mouse kidney. A single injection of mercuric chloride resulted in severe damage of tubular epithelium primarily in the proximal convolutions situated in the cortex and outer medullary stripe. Although the injection of mercuric chloride to testosterone treated mice decreased the stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity it did not prevent the increase in the concentration of putrescine. The levels of spermidine as well as of RNA were elevated. These results may indicate early reperative growth following mercuric chloride administration. The observations are discussed in relation to the effects of 1,3-diaminopropane, another nephrotoxic agent on renal growth and polyamine metabolism.