Renal hemodynamics in oliguric and nonoliguric acute renal failure of rabbits

The role of renal hemodynamic alterations in the curtailment of renal functions was studied in uranyl acetate-induced oliguric (ORF) and nonoliguric (NORF) renal failures of rabbits. 5 days after drug injection, renal functional and morphological changes were most remarkable. A depression of Cin and elevation of serum creatinine concentration were more marked in ORF than in NORF. Renal blood flow was high as compared to controls. Cortical blood flow redistributed to the inner cortex. There was no significant difference in renal blood flow or cortical flow distribution between renal failure models. The findings suggest the minor roles of renal blood flow and cortical flow distribution in maintaining renal failure in these nephrotoxic models. Prominent tubular necrosis was found in ORF but not in NORF. Arterial inulin concentration during retrograde ureteral infusion of 14C-inulin solution was significantly high in ORF as compared to controls and NORF. However, this inulin leakage was too small to explain severely curtailed inulin clearance.