A Study of Vesicorenal Reflexes and of the Possibility of a Renorenal Reflex

Abstract

Bladder distention or stimulation of the pelvic nerve in dogs produced changes in renal volume and inhibition of urinary flow; no change occurred if the splanchnic nerve was sec tioned. No change in urinary flow followed stimulation of the hypogastric nerve. Distention of one renal pelvis caused inhibition of urinary flow, and vasoconstriction of vessels in the opposite kidney, with reduction of kidney volume. Volume reduction was greater if glucose was injected immediately before distention. During micturition no urine flowed from the ureters, suggesting a protective reflex mechanism preventing back pressure. These experiments suggested a vesicorenal reflex; also, that urinary secretion of one kidney is influenced by distention of the opposite renal pelvis. This last is the renorenal reflex.