Effects of XXXX and @entity595 on some in vitro renal targets.

@entity1 @entity8 @entity137 @entity3409 @entity595
Metals are major pollutants not only in occupational settings but also in the general environment. Chronic exposure of workers has been related to severe damage, especially at the renal level. While toxic compounds such as metals are well known to severely impair tubular functions, it is clear that nephrotoxicants can act on various other renal targets, i.e., vascular and glomerular ones. In vitro models are available to assess these @entity137 and can be used to better understand the different cell targets. This paper summarizes data obtained in our laboratory after exposure of isolated renal structures such as glomeruli, and cell cultures such as glomerular mesangial and tubular epithelial cells, to @entity3409 and @entity595 . Morphometric studies by image analysis of isolated glomeruli and mesangial cultured cells showed that @entity3409 and @entity595 induced a dose- and time-dependent glomerular contraction accompanied by disorganization of the cytoskeleton. Classical viability tests demonstrated various factors influencing the metal @entity137 . The important roles of pH, extracellular protein concentrations and the nature of the anion accompanying the metal were demonstrated. These data obtained in in vitro models provide better understanding of the @entity137 after metal uptake and accumulation in glomerular and tubular cells. Moreover, the @entity8 they induce may be correlated with severe renal hemodynamic changes in vivo. Finally, we briefly present eventual improvements for in vitro renal models by the use of new cell models such as immortalized @entity1 cell lines or by the introduction of porous supports and perifusion devices.
