Role of Hemodynamic Alterations in the Partial Protection Afforded by Uninephrectomy against Glycerol-Induced Acute Renal Failure in Rats

Abstract

Systemic and renal hemodynamics and body fluid volumes were evaluated in 48-h uninephrectomized (UNX) and sham-operated (SO) rats, 3 h after glycerol-induced acute renal failure (ARF). UNX rats showed a 20% increase in cardiac output (CO) and renal blood flow (RBF) and a 20% decrease in total peripheral resistance (TPR) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) with respect to the control rats. There was no difference in body fluid volumes. Three hours after ARF induction, UNX rats showed a minor decrease in RBF and GFR and a minor increase in RVR when compared with the control rats. CO decreased to similar levels in both UNX and SO rats. Mean arterial pressure and TPR increases were observed in UNX and SO rats, but these increases were higher in the UNX than in the SO rats. Plasma and extracellular volumes were reduced in both groups of rats. The partial protection afforded by the renal mass reduction against the glycerol-induced ARF seem to be explained by the minor decrease in RBF and the lesser increase in RVR exhibited by the UNX rats after ARF induction.