Acute renal failure in Tupaia belangeri and rats

Acute renal failure in man can best be simulated in model experiments by using either temporary occlusion of the renal artery or perfusions of noradrenaline into the renal artery. The kidney of the Tupaia belangeri, a primitive primate, is more resistant to temporary occlusion of the renal artery than of the rat. In Tupaia as in rats, anuria developing 48 hours after temporary ischemia is brought about by intratubular proteinaceous casts blocking the flow of urinary filtrate, most likely at Henle's loop. As proof that the proteinaceous casts block the tubular lumina, we found that when two micropipettes are inserted into the same nephron and that nephron perfused, the intratubular pressures rise, approaching systolic pressures.