Ammonium chloride alters renal tubular cell growth and protein turnover.

Abstract

We conclude that in addition to inducing hypertrophy, NH4Cl can inhibit tubular cell proliferation. Thus, while heightened ammoniagenesis in vivo may favor hypertrophy, this in vitro study raises the question whether an elevated intrarenal ammonia content might be harmful when cell replication is required. Acute tubular necrosis is a condition in which elevated ammonia levels and a requirement for cell replication coexist and could serve as an important model to study this question.