Acute renal and hepatic effects induced by 3‐haloanilines in the fischer 344 rat

Abstract Haloanilines are commonly used as chemical intermediates in the manufacture of a wide range of products. The purpose of this study was to examine the in vivo nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials of the 3‐haloanilines. The in vitro effects of the 3‐haloanilines on renal function were also examined. In the in vivo experiments, male Fischer 344 rats (four rats/group) were administered a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of an aniline hydrochloride (1.0 or 1.25 mmol kg −1 ) or vehicle. Renal and hepatic function were monitored at 24 and/or 48 h post‐treatment. None of the 3‐haloanilines were potent nephrotoxicants at either dose level. The greatest effects on renal function were observed following administration of 3‐chloroaniline at a dose of 1.25 mmol kg −1 (oliguria, glucosuria, hematuria, decreased p ‐aminohippurate accumulation by renal cortical slices and increased blood urea nitrogen concentration). 3‐Chloroaniline also was the only aniline compound to increase plasma ALT/GPT activity at 48 h. In the in vitro experiments, the ability of an aniline (10 −5 –10 −3 M) to decrease organic ion accumulation in renal cortical slices from untreated rats was examined. The decreasing order of in vitro nephrotoxic potential was 3‐iodoaniline > 3‐bromoaniline > 3‐chloroaniline > aniline > 3‐fluoroaniline. These results indicate that the 3‐haloanilines are not potent nephrotoxicants or hepatotoxicants at sublethal doses. In addition, the reasons why the 3‐haloanilines have different orders of nephrotoxic potential in vivo and in vitro are not clear at this time.