Latex Rubber Capsule for Producing Hypertension in Rats by Perinephritis

Abstract

Persistent hypertension can be readily produced in rats by enveloping both kidneys in molded latex capsules. The latter are made by dipping kidney-shaped glass molds into pure gum latex. Through a dorsal incision, the kidneys are delivered and carefully decapsulated. The latex capsule is slipped over each kidney with the aid of special instruments which are described. The renal blood vessels and ureters are not constricted but perinephritis, first fibriuous and then fibrous, develops about the kidney. In this series of 47 operated rats, 70% were alive and healthy at the end of 60 days; of these 90% developed systolic blood pressure readings ranging from 165-240 mm. Hg 2 to 3 wks. after operation. The severity of hypertension, as measured in the tail plethysmographi-cally, was verified by direct detns. using the Hamilton manometer .