Changes in regional renal blood flow after unilateral nephrectomy using the techniques of autoradiography and...

To determine alterations in regional renal blood flow following unilateral nephrectomy using an autoradiographic technique. The role of prostaglandins and the sympathetic nervous system in the mediation of these changes was assessed.

C-14 iodoantipyrine was used as a tracer to measure intrarenal blood flow in anaesthetised rats at multiple time points following nephrectomy. Autoradiographs were produced from tissue sections. C-14 concentrations were measured from standards thus allowing blood flow values to be calculated.

Base line values for cortical and medullary blood flow were 806 +/- 63 and 373 +/- 39 ml./100 gm./min. (mean +/- SEM) respectively. At 2 hours post nephrectomy blood flow to both the cortex and medulla increased significantly (1152 +/- 54 and 594 +/- 37; p < 0.05). Blood flow had returned to control levels by 24 hours and was maintained at 5 days post-nephrectomy. Multiple discrete regions of high blood flow within the cortex were observed. Microautoradiography defined the morphological location of these discrete regions of higher blood flow as periglomerular vasculature. Diclofenac administration did not inhibit the augmentation in cortical blood flow post-nephrectomy, while medullary blood flow fell below base line values at both 30 minutes and 2 hours following nephrectomy. Sympathetic denervation did not affect the changes in cortical blood flow seen following nephrectomy, but did ameliorate the changes in medullary blood flow.

Significant, transient changes in regional renal blood flow occur in the residual kidney following unilateral nephrectomy. The interaction between vasoactive mediators and the autonomic nervous system which produces changes in cortical blood flow is complex. It is evident, however, that medullary blood flow is dependent on local prostaglandin production and is also influenced by sympathetic nervous supply.