Effect of ischemia on renal blood flow in the rat

The effect of ischemia on renal blood flow (RBF) in the rat has been an unsettled question. This study used a totally extractable indicator, radioactive microspheres, with a reference arterial sample, to study RBF quantitatively 10 and 60 min after 1 h of unilateral renal artery clamping in anesthetized, heparinized rats. The results indicate that after release of the arterial clamp, the kidney is enlarged and exhibits an increase in renal vascular resistance. RBF to the contralateral non-ischemic kidney is not different from that of a time-control series.