Effect of Mannitol, Saline, and Urea on the Function of a Recently Autotransplanted Kidney

Abstract

MINIMIZING ischemic damage to a donor kidney to insure prompt function is an important factor in successful renal homotransplantation. The purpose of this experiment was to test if mannitol would be useful for this purpose and to compare its effectiveness and possible mechanism of action with that of saline and urea. Methods Twenty-three dogs were anesthetized with pentobarbital (Nembutal) and placed on a respirator with room air. Carotid-artery pressure was continuously recorded. Test solutions were injected into an external jugular catheter. The left kidney was excised and connected to the right iliac vessels. Bilateral catheters were inserted. Twenty percent mannitol, 20% urea, 6.7% urea, and normal saline were injected over three to four minutes using the following doses: 20% mannitol at 500 mg/kg (2.5 cc/kg); 20% urea at 500 mg/kg (2.5 cc/kg); 6.7% urea at 167 mg/kg (2.5 cc/kg); normal saline at 2.5 cc/kg. Solutions of 6.7% and 20% urea