Direct renal effects of sodium acetate in the dog

Sodium acetate (AC) is used in clinical medicine as it provides a ready source of fixed base. The direct renal dynamics of this buffer salt are not well known. In anesthetized dogs the left renal artery was infused with solutions of AC. In concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5 muEq/min, the acetate ion was always immediately detected in the urine. There were no demonstrable renal changes in volume, PAH clearance, creatinine clearance or electrolytes during the perfusion periods. Direct infusion of AC into the renal artery did not cause any change in blood pressure. We conclude that AC in the conditions of our experiments did not cause renal vasodilation or changes in renal excretions patterns and appears to have a zero renal threshold.