Renal hemodynamics in HgCl2-induced acute renal failure

Renal blood flow (RBF), outer cortical blood flow (OC-rbf) and inner cortical blood flow were determined by the microsphere method in water-drinking rats and chronic saline-drinking rats at 3, 12 and 24 h after injection of HgCl2, 4.7 mg/kh body weight. RFB and OC-rbf were decreased in both groups at 3 h post HgCl2 injection. Persistent reduction of OC-rbf was noted in water-drinking rats at 12 and 24 h post HgCl2 even though the total RBF returned to normal by 24 h. These parameters were normal in chronic saline-drinking rats. Despite normal RBF in water-drinking and saline-drinking rats, serum creatinines were still signigicantly elevated 24 h post HgCl2. Therefore, alterations in total renal perfusion do not entirely account for the decreased renal function that occurs under these circumstances.