Mesangial cell hypertrophy induced by NH4Cl: role of depressed activities of cathepsins due to elevated lysosomal pH.

Enhanced ammoniagenesis is currently thought to play an important role in renal hypertrophy and subsequent tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Under certain conditions glomeruli also may be affected by ammonia toxicity. Exposure of glomeruli to augmented ammonia levels may occur: (i) in advanced liver diseases due to elevated blood ammonia concentrations; (ii) in conditions of enhanced tubular ammoniagenesis following cortical "trapping;" and (iii) due to increased ammonia formation in the glomeruli in the presence of impaired renal function.