Abstract
It has been suggested that morphologic and functional adaptations to renal parenchymal loss are partially dependent on the intrinsic capacity for growth. This implies that maximal changes should be observed in the kidney of the newborn, particularly in the superficial cortex which has the greatest growth potential. Seven mongrel puppies underwent a 75% reduction in renal mass during the first 48 hrs. of life. Four sham operated littermates served as controls. All puppies were studied 6 wks. later. Renal mass increased by at least 10-fold in the experimental animals (E) and by 5-fold in controls (C). GFR/g of kidney was .71 ± .07 (SE) ml/min in E and .55 ± .13 in C. As a consequence of hypertrophy and functional adaptation, E animals achieved a mean GFR of 79.8 ± 8 ml/min/m2 BSA which was not statistically different from 92.1 ± 13 observed in C. CpAH was 129 ± 18 ml/min/m2 BSA in E and 130 ± 26 in C. Measurements of intrarenal distribution of blood flow (IDBF) with 85Sr labeled microspheres disclosed a significantly lower percent of flow going to the superficial cortex of the E (43%) than of the C (66%). It appears, therefore, that newborn animals achieve a degree of renal functional compensation (~90%) which exceeds by far that observed by others in adult animals (~50%). The difference in IDBF between E and C is probably the consequence of a disproportionally higher increase in the tubular mass of the rapidly growing nephrons.
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Aschinberg, L., Koskimies, O., Bernstein, J. et al. RESPONSE OF THE DEVELOPING KIDNEY TO RENAL PARENCHYMAL LOSS. Pediatr Res 8, 453 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00679
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00679