Experimental oliguric acute renal failure: protective effects of renomedullary autotransplants

An acute circulatory renal failure (ARF) was induced in 18 rabbits by temporary ischemia of the remaining kidney 8 days after unilateral nephrectomy and subcuteaneous autotransplantation of renomedullary tissue.--Mortality in the postischemic course was 50% in treated animals but 100% in the control group (n = 18) without autotransplantation. In the postischemic period plasma urea concentration was significantly lower (p smaller than 0.005) in the surviving transplanted animals and excretion of sodium and water significantly higher (p smaller than 0.005) as compared with the control group. Plasma renin values which were significantly lower than thos of the control(p smaller than 0.005) had decreased significantly even as compared with the initial values. These results indicate that hormonal substances are produced in interstitial cells of renomedullary autotransplants exerting a distinct protective effect against experimental acute renal failure. Decreased plasma renin activity may point to an inhibition of circulating and/or intrarenal renin by lipids originating from the transplants. Changes in sodium and water excretion indicate effects of circulating prostaglandins