Renal and systemic effects of short-term high protein feeding in normal rats

Various studies have shown that a high protein (HP) diet, compared to a low protein (LP) diet, leads to hypercalciuria and alterations in renal and systemic hemodynamics. The authors compared the effects of HP diet to those of normal protein diet (NP) to determine the possible mechanisms by which changes in systemic hemodynamics and hypercalciuria occurred. The studies were conducted in awake rats; the effects of dietary sodium content on the changes induced by HP also were evaluated. The relationship of prostaglandins (PG), renin (PRA), and aldosterone (PA) to changes in blood pressure (BP) was assessed. Two weeks after HP and normal sodium feeding (40%), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine flow (V) were not different from the same values in a group on an NP diet (23%). When HP was fed with low sodium, there was a rise in V as a consequence of greater fluid intake. Although plasma calcium remained constant, the hypercalciuria correlated with high protein and sodium content. Alterations in 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 or PTH (cyclic AMP excretion) function did not explain the hypercalciuria induced by HP. This suggests that HP leads to inhibition of tubular calcium reabsorption by mechanism(s) yet to be elucidated. Although HP did not alter GFR, it led to an increase in BP, a fall in renal vascular resistance, and an increase in RPF, regardless of sodium intake. PRA and urine PGE2 excretion were significantly higher in the rats on HP diet, whereas PA remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)