Feedback regulation of glomerular filtration rate in the denervated rat kidney

Micropuncture studies were done in anesthetized rats to determine whether the sensitivity of tubuloglomerular feedback might be modified by acute renal denervation. The proximal single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) was significantly greater than the distal SNGFR was, when measured in a paired manner from the same nephron. Early proximal flow rate (EPFR) was measured during orthograde perfusion of the loop of Henle with Ringer's solution. A change of loop perfusion rate from 0 to 40 nl/min decreased EPFR in normal, sham-denervated, and denervated kidneys. The differences between proximal and distal SNGFR and the percent reduction of EPFR were not different among the three groups. These results indicate that the sensitivity of the tubuloglomerular feedback may not be affected by acute denervation.