Abstract
This communication describes a method which has been developed to produce renal insufficiency by surgical procedure. Rabbits were used. The method is carried out by putting a loop of thread about one renal artery, when the animal is about 10 days old. This is done by placing a wire of 0.4 mm. diameter alongside the artery and tying a silk thread down upon the 2 together, and then withdrawing the wire. This leaves a loop about the artery of a diameter little larger than the artery. The artery soon grows up to this size and then any increase in the blood flow and size of that kidney is prevented. The other kidney overdevelops and so takes care of the increased renal demands of the animal. When the animal is 3 to 4 months of age, this large kidney is removed, leaving the animal with a small kidney, which cannot hypertrophy because of the tie about the artery. Too much time must not elapse before the second operation, lest atrophy of the small kidney supervene.
In this way any degree of kidney insufficiency can be produced. If the reduction in renal tissue be large (four-fifths) we find a rise in blood non protein nitrogen to 50-80 mg. per 100 cc. of blood, and a large volume of dilute urine is excreted. Greater reduction in kidney tissue results in higher blood non protein nitrogen (120-150 mg. N per 100 cc.), symptoms like uremia, low plasma chlorides, and death.
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