Measurement of renal interstitial fluid pressure with polyethylene matrix capsules

The renal interstitial fluid pressure was measured in dogs from small chronically implanted solid capsules made of porous polyethylene matrix material (pore size approximately 60 mum). Tissue does not grow into the polyethylene and the matrix creates a permanent fluid-filled space in communication with the interstitium. The fluid pressure in the capsule matrix was measured from a tube leading from the capsule with an active servo-null pressure-measuring device. Renal interstitial fluid pressure measured from 28 hydropenic dogs averaged 6.1 plus or minus 0.51 mmHg (SE). Increasing oncotic pressure inside the capsule to 90 mmHg resulted in a small but significant increase in hydrostatic pressure inside the capsule of 3.3 plus or minus 0.46 mmHg. However, the hydrostatic pressure returned to control levels within 30 min. In vitro studies indicated that the pressure measured from the capsule was highly sensitive to change in surrounding hydrostatic pressure, but insensitive to change in surrounding oncotic pressure. Histological studies showed a small layer of connective tissue surrounding the capsule less than 100 mum thick in many areas. There was no evidence of inflammation or tissue rejection. It is concluded that the small chronically implanted polyethylene capsule is a reliable method for the measurement of renal interstitial fluid pressure.