Abstract
In dogs and rats undergoing saline diuresis, removal of one kidney induces adaptive changes in the excretion of water, Na and HCO3. This ‘compensatory adaptation’ of renal function was further defined in adult and newborn rabbits. Clearance studies were performed on anesthetized animals maintained on a constant fluid balance. In adult animals exclusion of one kidney induced an immediate increase in urine flow, GFR, and in the fractional excretion of Na, K, Ca and P. A transient increase in effective renal plasma flow was observed. In animals undergoing hypertonic saline diuresis, contralateral nephrectomy did not depress free-water reabsorption in the remaining kidney, thus indicating that Na transport in the ascending limb of Henle's Loop was not inhibited in this condition. These observations suggest that contralateral nephrectomy depresses water and electrolyte transport in the proximal tubule of the remaining kidney. Occurrence of ‘compensatory adaptation’ was studied in eight 1-month-old rabbits. In none of them did contralateral nephrectomy induce compensatory changes in the remaining kidney. The absence of ‘compensatory adaptation’ in newborns could reflect an inability to depress proximal sodium reabsorption. SUPPORTED BY GRANT No. 3.7490.72 of FNSRS
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Guignard, J., Torrado, A. & Gautier, E. Compensatory adaptation after contralateral nephrectomy in adult and newborn rabbits.. Pediatr Res 8, 894 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00013
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00013