Tissue PH2 measurement for continuous estimation of blood flow changes in rat kidney cortex and medulla

A method is described for estimation of local blood flow changes in the renal cortex and medulla, based on continuous polarographic measurement of tissue pressure of electrochemically generated hydrogen (PH2). The technique was used in anaesthetized female Wistar rats. The changes in cortical PH2 were negatively correlated with those in flow velocity in the renal artery (Doppler probe). To evaluate the method, PH2 responses to a reduction of renal perfusion pressure (RPP) and to angiotensin II were examined. RPP reduction from 130 mmHg to 104 mmHg increased the cortical PH2 by 3.5% and medullary PH2 by 6.9% (difference significant at P less than 0.02). With RPP reduction from 113 mmHg to 76 mmHg the values were 6.9% and 11% respectively (difference significant at P less than 0.001). Angiotensin II infusion increased cortical PH2 by 8.7% and medullary PH2 by 4.1% (difference significant at P less than 0.005). It is concluded that the method enables continuous estimation of blood flow changes in the renal cortex and medulla.