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A new method was developed for separate kidney function studies by catheterizing the ureters and exteriorizing the catheters through the urethra into the vagina. Renal artery plication was performed to reduce blood flow to one kidney by 66 +/- 5%. Arterial pressure increased from 107 +/- 2 to 131 +/- 3 mmHg and remained elevated for 28 days. Plasma renin activity was increased for the first 7-10 days only. Sodium and water excretion were markedly reduced in the kidney with the stenosed renal artery and after the first 2 days Na and water excretion were incresed in the contralateral kidney. These changes in Na and water excretion were frequently associated with similar directional changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow. An exception was noted in that renal sodium and water excretion remained low throughout the 28 days in the kidney with the constricted renal artery, whereas GRF returned to near the control level by the end of 2 wk. Altered filtration fraction did not appear to be a determining factor in control of the rate of Na excretion. It is suggested that GFR, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and other as yet undefined factors are involved in salt and water homeostasis during unilateral renal artery stenosis with hypertension.

We administered the diuretics furosemide and ethacrynic acid to conscious freshwater turtles to assess changes in renal function and plasma renin activity (PRA) in an animal which lacks a loop of Henle. Furosemide (2 and 5 mg/kg) produced no changes in blood pressure, hematocrit, plasma electrolytes, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), or PRA. Furosemide doubled urine volume while sodium excretion increased 20-fold and chloride and potassium excretion increased 12-fold (P less than 0.05 in each case). Net potassium secretion was observed. Ethacrynic acid (2 and 5 mg/kg) also produced no changes in blood pressure, hematocrit, plasma electrolytes, or PRA. At the lower dose GFR increased by 40% and urine volume nearly doubled (P Less than 0.05 in each case). Sodium, chloride, and potassium excretion increased roughly 10-fold (P less than 0.05 in each case). At the higher dose, GFR increased by 80% and urine volume more than doubled (P Less than 0.05 in each case). Sodium excretion rose 40-fold, chloride excretion rose 25-fold, and potassium excretion rose 10-fold (P less than 0.05 in each case). At both doses net potassium secretion occurred. The results demonstrate that both drugs inhibit tubular reabsorption in the turtle, acting primarily on distal segments of the nephron. The failure of either drug to alter PRA suggests that the turtle lacks a tubular mechanism for altering renin release.

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