Abstract
Chanutin and Ferris 1 have already reported hypertension and renal insufficiency in rats following partial nephrectomy. This report describes briefly the histological changes in the kidney stump of rats at intervals after subtotal nephrectomy and records additional blood pressure observations.
In this experiment 184 Wistar strain albino rats were studied. In 157 of these, approximately two-thirds of the left kidney was removed by polar ligation, and the remaining right kidney was excised one week later. Of 27 control animals, each had 2 laparotomies (one week apart) when the kidneys were exposed, handled and replaced intact. After the operative procedures all of the animals were fed on a normal balanced diet containing approximately 20% protein. At intervals varying from one to 281 days after second operation, a direct carotid blood pressure reading was made (ether anesthesia), and autopsy then performed. Infection was not encountered except in rare instances, and did not affect the results reported below. Tissues were fixed variously in formol, mercuric chloride, and Helly's fluid. Frozen and paraffin sections were stained with Scharlach-R, Mallory-Heidenhain, and other usual methods.
The blood pressure in the 27 control rats ranged from 100 to 140 mm. Hg., with an average of 120 mm. Hg. (a figure already fully established by Chanutin and Ferris). Of 157 animals with subtotal nephrectomy, 10 had blood pressures ranging from 70 to 99 mm. Hg.; 57, from 100 to 139 mm. Hg.; 45, from 140 to 169 mm. Hg.; 34, from 170 to 199 mm. Hg.; and 11, from 200 to 230 mm. Hg. In general, the test animals with subnormal blood pressures were acutely ill. The higher blood pressure levels were found in rats with subtotal nephrectomy of 60 days or longer.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.