Abstract.
Bismuth induced nephrotoxicity has been reported to occur after acute overdoses of Bi-containing therapeutic drugs. We studied the development of bismuth induced nephropathy and bismuth biokinetics in rats. Bismuth nephropathy was induced in 33 young adult female Wistar rats weighing ca. 175 g by feeding them a single overdose of colloidal bismuth subcitrate containing 3.0 mmol Bi/kg at (t=0). Control animals (n=7) were fed the vehicle only. The animals were sacrificed after 1–48 h. Plasma creatinine increased from 51±6 µmol/l at t=0 to 550±250 µmol/l after 48 h in the experimental group. The S3 segment of the proximal tubule showed epithelial cell vacuolation after 1 h and necrosis after 3 h. Cells of the S1/S2 segment demonstrated vacuolation after 6 h and necrosis after 12 h. Biokinetics of bismuth in blood could best be described with a one-compartment model characterized by an absorption half-life of 0.32 h and an elimination half-life of 16 h. The peak concentration of about 7.0 mg Bi/l was reached after 2 h. In conclusion, cells of the S3 segment of the proximal tubule necrotized first after an oral colloidal bismuth subcitrate overdose and biokinetics of Bi in blood was best described by a one-compartment model.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leussink, B., Slikkerveer, A., Krauwinkel, W. et al. Bismuth biokinetics and kidney histopathology after bismuth overdose in rats. Arch Toxicol 74, 349–355 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002040000150
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002040000150