Increased single-nephron protein excretion after renal ablation in nephrotic rats

The effects of reducing nephron number in rats with established nephrosis were investigated. Rats received an injection of adriamycin and were divided into three groups with similar values for proteinuria after 4 wk. Group 1 rats were then subjected to sham operation. Group 2 rats were subjected to four-fifths renal ablation, and group 3 rats were subjected to four-fifths renal ablation and then maintained on enalapril. Micropuncture and morphological studies were performed 3 wk later. During this 3-wk period, proteinuria increased slightly in each group. Increased proteinuria in groups 2 and 3 reflected a dramatic increase in remnant nephron proteinuria after renal ablation in nephrotic rats. Increased remnant nephron proteinuria in groups 2 and 3 was associated with increased single-nephron glomerular filtration rate (group 1, 30 +/- 2 nl/min; group 2, 54 +/- 3 nl/min; group 3, 41 +/- 4 nl/min) and increased glomerular volume (group 1, 0.93 +/- 0.05 x 10(6) micron 3; group 2, 1.30 +/- 0.09 x 10(6) micron 3; group 3, 1.27 +/- 0.05 x 10(6) micron 3). The increase in single-nephron glomerular filtration rate after renal ablation in both group 2 and 3 rats was attributable to an increase in glomerular plasma flow (group 1, 119 +/- 14 nl/min; group 2, 217 +/- 18 nl/min; group 3, 183 +/- 13 nl/min) without a significant increase in glomerular transcapillary hydraulic pressure (group 1, 45 +/- 1 mmHg; group 2, 48 +/- 3 mmHg; group 3, 44 +/- 2 mmHg). Group 2 exhibited an increase in systemic blood pressure that was prevented by enalapril treatment in group 3. These studies show that an increase in remnant nephron proteinuria accompanies glomerular hypertrophy and hyperfiltration when nephron number is reduced in nephrotic rats. This increase in remnant nephron proteinuria is not attributable to elevation of systemic or glomerular capillary pressure.