Nephrotoxicity of plasticizers investigated by 48 hours hypothermic perfusion of dog kidneys.
The possible nephrotoxicity of the plasticizers diethyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate was tested in vitro using a 48 hours continuous pulsatile hypothermic perfusion of canine kidneys with a human albumin perfusion medium. Since polysorbate 80 was used to facilitate the solution of the plasticizers in the perfusion medium, this substance was also tested. Six groups containing 9--15 kidneys were perfused with different amounts of plasticizers and/or polysorbate 80 added. In perfusates containing polysorbate 80 either alone or with one of the two plasticizers, the LDH activity and the potassium concentrations rose significantly higher than in the control group (p less than 0.001). The kidney weight gain was also significantly greater in these groups. A "blind" histological examination of needle biopsies by light microscopy revealed no differences among the groups. Although the biochemical evidence of tissue damage was not tested by re-implantation of the kidneys, we suggest that caution should be exercised in the use of polysorbate 80 in organ perfusion systems.