[The effect of thyroxine on renal function in experimental acute renal insufficiency]

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of exogenous thyroxine upon the kidney function in the experimental renal failure induced by the uranyl acetate application. Acute renal failure was induced by uranyl acetate in 32 rats, divided into 4 groups, each consisted of 8 rats. The group of untreated animals and the group of animals treated with thyroxine only were used as controls. Then glomerular filtration rate was determined in all the rats taken in the experiment. The comparison was made between the control or the group with acute renal failure without the thyroxine treatment and the groups treated with a single application of thyroxine before, simultaneously and after the uranyl acetate injection. An improvement of the glomerural filtration rate and a decrease of the blood nitrogen retention were obtained in rats with acute renal failure pretreated with thyroxine. Necrotic alterations of the kidney cortex were less marked in this group than in the group without thyroxine treatment. The improvements of the kidney function and morphology in acute renal failure suggest the possibility of the protective effect of thyroxine.