Influence of thiopental anesthesia on renal sodium and water excretion in the dog

Abstract

The influence of thiopental anesthesia on renal tubular Na reabsorption was investigated in the well-trained dog. After administration of the anesthetic, renal Na reabsorption was depressed, leading to the enhanced excretion of Na and water. Associated with this response was a decrease in the plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Neither renal hemodynamic functions nor the humoral factors, prostaglandin E, plasma renin activity or arginine vasopressin appeared to be the major determinants of the natriuresis. Evidently, the administration of thiopental depresses renal sympathetic nerve activity, thereby diminishing the renal tubular transport of sodium.