Renal vasodilation after unilateral renal ablation

Renal blood flow was studied in rats 120 minutes after unilateral renal ablation. The influence of endogenous prostaglandin formation was evaluated by indomethacin treatment prior to the ablation. Radioactive microspheres were used for estimation of the total renal and cortical blood flow, and the renal medullary blood flow was determined with the 86-Rb chloride extraction method. The total blood flow in the remaining kidney was increased by 80% following contralateral ablation, with augmentation in all areas, particularly in the deep medullary region. Indomethacin treatment in intact rats evoked increased blood flow as compared with the indomethacin control group. The results indicated that the renal blood vessels respond to ablation of the contralateral kidney with dilation in all kidney regions, and that this vascular dilation may be prostaglandin-mediated.