Evaluation of methods indicating higher susceptibility of immature rats to renal ischemia

After 45-min bilateral warm renal ischemia lethality amounted to 45% and 82% in 55- and 20-day-old rats, respectively (n = 176). Lethality rates were not significantly different after 20-min unilateral ischemia followed by contralateral nephrectomy after 24 hours (34 vs. 48% in young vs. adult rats; n = 168). The latter experimental approach was used to characterize age dependent differences in the susceptibility to ischemia. The degree of postischemic renal damage was the highest at the 1st and 2nd days after ischemia; at this time, lethality rates were similar in young and adult rats. However, urea concentration in serum was significantly more enhanced in young animals whereas that of creatinine was increased to the same extent in both age groups. The increase in protein excretion into urine was similar in young and adult rats, too. Furthermore, urine flow rates and GFR were significantly diminished after ischemia, independent of age. However, excretion of Na+ and K+ was distinctly more depressed in immature individuals. Finally, the glutathione content in kidney tissue of both age groups was reduced and lipid peroxidation was significantly higher after ligation of the renal arteries. The relative changes were similar in both age groups although the glutathione content was significantly lower in 20-day-old control rats. 4-5 days after ischemia, most parameters returned to baseline values. In 55-day-old rats, 45-min ischemia has more severe consequences on renal function compared to 20-min ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)