Effects of indomethacin on glomerular hemodynamics in experimental diabetes

The glomerular hemodynamics were studied in streptozotocin diabetic rats 3 months after the induction and in age-matched normal animals. Indomethacin infusion failed to cause changes in glomerular hemodynamics in normal rats but produced striking effects in the diabetic rats: The afferent arteriolar hydraulic resistance increased substantially while the efferent resistance rose moderately causing large reductions in single nephron blood flow and in the hydraulic pressure in the glomerular capillaries. Consequently, single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) was reduced significantly below normal. The ultrafiltration coefficient of the glomerular membrane was significantly lower in the diabetic than in the normal animals (2.8 versus 5.0 nl min-1 mm Hg-1) and remained unchanged during indomethacin infusion. Our results suggest that the prostaglandin system compensates for the changes in the glomerular hemodynamics induced by diabetes by reducing the arteriolar resistances to increase the glomerular capillary pressure making it possible to maintain normal values of SNGFR and nephron blood flow.