Hypertrophic response of the kidney in indomethacin treated rats

Indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis administered to rats in a total dose of 2 x 4.5 mg/kg i.v. for 2 days enhanced compensatory renal hypertrophy following unilateral nephrectomy (UN). The same drug given to rats with intact kidneys in a total dose of 4 x 4.5 mg/kg i.p. in 2 days increased kidney weight renal RNA content and decreased renal acidic ribonuclease activity. It remains to be elucidated whether the suppression of PG synthesis and/or other pharmacological effects of indomethacin account for these findings.