Time course of the renal functional response to partial nephrectomy: measurements in conscious rats

Previous investigations into the functional responses of the surviving nephrons following reductions in renal mass have been performed largely in anaesthetized animals and have taken little account of how the compensatory changes develop with time. The present study has assessed a method for determining glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in unrestrained, uncatheterized, conscious rats (plasma disappearance of Tc-99m-diethylenetriamene pentaacetic acid (DTPA)) and has used this method to document the time course of the changes in GFR over a 32 day period following uninephrectomy or 5/6 nephrectomy. Concurrent measurements of excretion rates and of the clearance of lithium (the latter being an index of end-proximal fluid delivery) provided information on changes in overall tubular function and segmental reabsorption. After uninephrectomy, the GFR of the remaining kidney (compared with that of a single kidney of sham-operated animals) increased maximally (by similar to 50%) within 8 days; after 5/6 nephrectomy, the increase in the GFR of the remnant kidney was maximal (at similar to 300%) within 16 days. Overall excretion rates of sodium and potassium were well maintained in partially nephrectomized animals throughout the period of study, while the excretion of water increased (by similar to 30% after uninephrectomy and by similar to 120% after 5/6 nephrectomy), partly as a result of the compensatory increases in GFR but mainly as a consequence of moderate (after uninephrectomy) or marked (after 5/6 nephrectomy) reductions in fractional reabsorption. During the early period after 5/6 nephrectomy, potassium excretion sometimes exceeded the filtered load, indicating net secretion. Lithium clearance data indicated that the changes in tubular function after 5/6 nephrectomy include a reduction in fractional reabsorption in the proximal tubule, whereas after uninephrectomy any such effect on the proximal tubule is minor and transient.