Inhibition of compensatory renal growth by indomethacin

Renal prostaglandins may be important in the modulation of compensatory renal growth. Reductions in renal mass are associated with increased synthesis of these substances by the remaining kidney, and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis diminishes renal function in partially nephrectomized animals and in patients with reduced functioning renal mass. We examined the effects of uninephrectomy and treatment with indomethacin on renal prostaglandin E2 and 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha concentrations in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. The renal content of these prostaglandins was significantly increased in the remaining kidney two days following uninephrectomy (p less than 0.01). Treatment with 5 mg/kg/day of indomethacin over this period abolished the compensatory increase in renal prostaglandin synthesis and significantly attenuated compensatory increases in renal mass, protein and RNA concentrations (p less than 0.05). No alterations in kidney weight, protein or RNA concentrations were found in intact animals treated with the same dose of indomethacin. These findings suggest renal prostaglandins may participate in the biological events leading to compensatory renal growth.