[The effect of urea on the course of experimental uremia in rats with a subtotal nephrectomy]

The important role of increasing plasma urea levels in renal failure progression was shown in Wistar rats with experimental uremia induced by subtotal nephrectomy. Renal structural lesions and dysfunction were the same as in rats fed a high-protein diet and in those on a low-protein diet supplemented with urea. The changes were much less in the control group of rats fed a low-protein diet alone. The findings suggest that high blood urea concentrations appear to be a cause of intraglomerular hemodynamic disturbances following renal failure progression.