Red Cell Factor in Renal Damage from Hypertonic Solutions. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Laparotomy was performed on 36 mongrel dogs. The aorticorenal segment was isolated and perfused with either blood or plasma. One ml/kg of 12.5% sodium chloride or 25% urea in 0.9% saline was injected during the perfusion. Concentrated sodium chloride produced extensive damage in the blood perfused organ but not when plasma was used. Kidneys injected with 25% urea in 0.9% saline regardless of perfusate did not differ from control organs or from each other. Animals whose only functioning kidneys were injected with sodium chloride developed uremia if blood was used for perfusion. It is concluded that the renal toxicity of concentrated solutions is dependent to a considerable degree upon the presence of the red cell and is not therefore a primary effect upon the renal parenchyma. The importance of the red cell under these circumstances may be related to the phenomenon of intravascular agglutination which has been described previously in other areas of the body following administration of markedly hyperosmotic solutions.