Effect of Water and Electrolyte Restriction on Pathologic Changes in Kidney of Jaundiced Rats

Abstract

Summary and conclusions

Severe depletion of water or electrolytes or both appears to increase the incidence and severity of renal lesions associated with jaundice produced by occlusion of the bile duct in rats. The renal lesions under these conditions may vary greatly in extent and severity but usually do not appear sufficient to produce either significant or fatal renal insufficiency. They usually consist of vacuolation of the tubules, especially proximal convoluted tubules, with a few casts and dilated tubules. Necrosis of tubules occasionally occurs. The renal lesions in this study infrequently closely resembled those of hemoglobinuric nephrosis. The casts, however, appeared to be mostly bile-stained casts. Rarely the lesion was extensive enough to cause severe renal damage.

The renal lesions seen in bile nephrosis then may be due in part to or may be superimposed on those due to severe electrolyte and water depletion or other causes of renal tubular degeneration.