Renal function in conscious rats with chronic unilateral renal denervation

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Abstract
Chronic unilateral renal denervation produced ipsilateral diuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis in 12 conscious rats under conditions of euvolemia and volume expansion. Differences between the 2 kidneys in urine flow rate, Na excretion and K excretion were increased following anesthetization of the animals with sodium pentobarbital. Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow tended to be slightly higher in the denervated kidneys. Fractional excretion of Na and water greater from the denervated kidneys than from the contralateral control kidneys whether the animals were conscious and euvolemic, conscious and volume expanded, or anesthetized and volume expanded. No differences in excretory function were observed between the 2 kidneys of 10 sham-denervated rats. Following anesthetization, both kidneys of sham-denervated rats showed time-independent reductions in excretion of Na, K, and water similar to the reductions from the control kidneys of the unilaterally denervated rats under anesthesia. This is the 1st demonstration of denervation diuresis and natriuresis in conscious rats.