Acceleration of the inflammatory response of the renal medulla by water diuresis.

Abstract

The acute inflammatory response to thermal injury in the medulla and cortex of control rats and rats undergoing a chronic water diuresis was determined by serial histologic study. Water diuresis enhanced the mobilization of granulocytes into the renal medulla. In contrast, the inflammatory response was delayed and diminished in intensity in the renal medulla of rats excreting a concentrated urine. Leukocytes were mobilized into the renal cortex with equal rapidity in both control animals and animals undergoing diuresis and at a faster rate than that observed in the renal medulla of control animals. These results suggest that an isotonic or nearly isotonic environment may be necessary for prompt leukocyte migration into the medulla of the kidney and that the speed of granulocyte mobilization may have some bearing on the protective effect of water diuresis in preventing renal infection.