Owing to advances in modern medicine, life expectancies are lengthening and leading to an increase in the population of older individuals. The aging process leads to significant alterations in many organ systems, with the kidney being particularly susceptible to age-related changes. Within the kidney, aging leads to ultrastructural changes such as glomerular and tubular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, which may compromise renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These alterations may reduce the functional reserve of the kidneys, making them more susceptible to pathological events when challenged or stressed, such as following exposure to nephrotoxicants. An important and prevalent environmental toxicant that induces nephrotoxic effects is mercury (Hg). Since exposure of normal kidneys to mercuric ions might induce glomerular and tubular injury, aged kidneys, which may not be functioning at full capacity, may be more sensitive to the effects of Hg than normal kidneys. Age-related renal changes and the effects of Hg in the kidney have been characterized separately. However, little is known regarding the influence of nephrotoxicants, such as Hg, on aged kidneys. The purpose of this review was to summarize known findings related to exposure of aged and diseased kidneys to the environmentally relevant nephrotoxicant Hg.

中文翻译：

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肾脏老化和汞的肾毒性作用。


由于现代医学的进步，预期寿命正在延长，导致老年人口的增加。衰老过程会导致许多器官系统发生显着变化，其中肾脏特别容易受到与年龄相关的变化的影响。在肾脏内，衰老会导致超微结构变化，例如肾小球和肾小管肥大、肾小球硬化和肾小管间质纤维化，这可能会损害肾血浆流量 (RPF) 和肾小球滤过率 (GFR)。这些改变可能会减少肾脏的功能储备，使它们在受到挑战或压力时更容易发生病理事件，例如暴露于肾毒物后。汞 (Hg) 是一种重要且普遍存在的可引起肾毒性作用的环境毒物。由于正常肾脏接触汞离子可能会引起肾小球和肾小管损伤，因此可能无法充分发挥功能的老年肾脏可能比正常肾脏对汞的影响更敏感。年龄相关的肾脏变化和汞对肾脏的影响已分别进行了表征。然而，人们对汞等肾毒物对衰老肾脏的影响知之甚少。本综述的目的是总结与衰老和患病肾脏暴露于环境相关肾毒物汞相关的已知发现。