Protective effect of verapamil on ischaemic renal injury in dogs

Three groups of female mongrel dogs were used. In each dog right nephrectomy was performed. In the first group, 60-min complete occlusion of the left renal artery was followed by 50.4% reduction in RBF (P less than 0.05), 53.4% reduction in GFR (P less than 0.01) and 46.7% reduction in urine flow rate (UV) (P less than 0.05). These haemodynamic changes were accompanied by a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in urinary enzyme activity. In the second group, following Verapamil 0.5 mg/kg i.v. bolus, there was diuresis and natriuresis, urine flow rate (UV) increased by 39% and UNaV by 60% (P greater than 0.05); there were no changes in RBF or GFR. In the third group, pretreatment with Verapamil prior to the arterial occlusion modified the deleterious effects of the 60-min renal ischaemia. RBF decreased by 9.4%, GFR by 28.5% and UV by 11.1% (P greater than 0.05); there was no change in the urinary enzyme activity. It is concluded that Verapamil can protect against ischaemic renal damage.