[Endotoxin effect on intravascular volume and kidney function in an acute experiment in the rat]

The effect of intravenous endotoxin (Sal. abortus equi) in a semilethal dose in rats was very individual. Animals showing a drop in creatinine clearance were termed sensitive (E II), and animals without effect on the creatinine clearance non sensitive (E I). In the sensitive animals a reduction of intravascular space by albumin loss into the extravascular space, a decrease of renal blood flow and an average fall in creatinine clearance of 40% were found. The non sensitive animals (E I), on the other hand, showed no significant change in albumin space but, in contrast to E II, their hematocrit fell, a fact interpreted as vasodilatation and inflow of fluid. In these animals (E I) no change in creatinine clearance was measured. Orthograde tubular perfusion of endotoxin through the loop of Henle elicited no tubular glomerular feedback response. In these sensitive animals (E II), the absence of tubular glomerular feedback vasoconstriction, hypovolemia and a fall in blood pressure suggest a prerenal cause for this type of acute renal failure. Additional factors responsible for acute renal failure are discussed.