RÔLE OF THE KIDNEYS IN THE RESISTANCE OF RATS TO HEMORRHAGE

Abstract

Rats anesthetized with Na pentobarbital were subjected to repeated hemorrhage, the kidneys being removed from the circulation in one-half of the animals and being intact in the remainder. The nephrectomized animals displayed a greater drop in blood pressure, and died following the removal of a smaller amt. of blood than the controls. The effects were not due to trauma to the adrenals because they were not modified when the kidneys of the control animals were manipulated to a degree equal to that required for a nephrectomy. Likewise, the results were not due to failure of excretion of the anesthetic agent because similar effects were observed in animals anesthetized with ether and paraldehyde. The observations support the concept, advanced by others, that the renal pressor mechanism may play a role in resistance to hemorrhage and other states attended by acute lowering of the blood pressure.