The Effect of Splenectomy on Renal Function in Epinephrine-Induced Renal Failure

Abstract

Abstract

In previous studies, iv infusion of epinephrine (4 μg/kg/min) for 6 hr was shown to cause acute tubular necrosis in 75% of intact, but in only 13% of splenectomized dogs. The present study presents similar experiments in which renal function is studied. Epinephrine infusion in intact dogs was marked by sustained depression of renal blood flow, creatinine clearance, and urine flow. Decreases in renal function were less pronounced in splenectomized dogs, and generally showed a significant tendency to improve over the 6-hr infusion period. It was concluded that the tubular lesion in epinephrine-infused intact dogs results from a sustained decrement in renal perfusion. It is suggested that the protective effects of splenectomy may involve reduced blood coagulability or facilitated renal prosta-glandin release, but the data thus far available are insufficient to affirm or deny these possibilities.