Effect of high-protein diet on renal concentration capacity in rabbits

In the present studies, we have found that New Zealand White rabbits kept on normal rabbit chow (16% protein, LP) are unable to raise fractional free water reabsorption [TCH2O divided by glomerular filtration rate (GFR)] as the fractional osmotic load (Cosm/GFR) is increased. Acute administration of urea (400 mosmol/l) or indomethacin (10 mg/kg iv bolus, followed by 0.25 mg/min infusion) corrects the defect. Moreover, rabbits kept for 2 wk on a 40% protein diet (HP) showed marked improvement in their renal concentration capacity. Balance studies showed that, in rabbits on HP, urine prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) excretion was lower while GFR, urine urea, and osmolar excretion were significantly higher than in rabbits in the LP group. Medullary tissue electrolytes in the HP vs. LP group were as follows: urea, 1,035 +/- 90 vs. 790 +/- 60 mmol.l-1 x g wet tissue wt-1; tissue Na+, 548 +/- 96 vs. 298 +/- 37 meq.l-1 x g wet wt-1; and K+, 201 +/- 43 vs. 99 +/- 16 meq.l-1 x g wet wt-1. Also, medullary slices from animals on HP had a lower PGE2 synthesis than those on LP when stimulated with angiotensin II (ANG II). Papillary plasma flow (PPF) measured by the accumulation of 125I-labeled albumin, after infusion of vasopressin, was 13.7 +/- 2.0 in the HP group and 22.7 +/- 3.4 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1 in the LP group. These findings suggest that lower PPF and higher urea and electrolyte content in the medullary interstitium of HP intake results from inability to produce medullary PGE2 even during ANG II or antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)