Sequential changes in renal oxygen consumption and sodium transport during hyperdynamic sepsis in sheep

The sequence of changes in systemic and renal oxygen delivery (QO2) and consumption (VO2) and renal function in an ovine model of progressive hyperdynamic sepsis was investigated. Nine chronically instrumented awake sheep were given a continuous intravenous Escherichia coli endotoxin infusion (20 ng.kg-1.min-1) for 3 days. After 8 h of the infusion, systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance stayed decreased by 30% (P less than 0.001). Systemic QO2 progressively increased to a maximum of 157% of baseline values at 24 h and was associated with a decreased O2 extraction ratio from 33 +/- 2 (SE) to 23 +/- 2% (P less than 0.05), resulting in an unchanged systemic VO2. Renal blood flow and renal QO2 decreased by 40% during the first 12 h, returning to and staying at baseline values after 24 h. Renal VO2 decreased significantly by 35% at 12 h and then partially recovered to baseline values. Plasma creatinine clearance was maximally reduced to 25% of baseline values at 12 h and thereafter remained significantly (P less than 0.01) below 50% of baseline values. Both total and fractional sodium excretion fell at 12 h by 95 and 74%, respectively, and remained reduced over time, indicating conserved tubular function. The ratio of moles of sodium reabsorbed to moles of O2 consumed by the kidney was transiently reduced, from 33.4 +/- 4.1 to 12.4 +/- 3.6 at 12 h (P less than 0.05), indicating a relative increase in energy expenditure for tubular transport or renal synthetic activities, but recovered to baseline values after 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)