Renal hemodynamics and renal O2 uptake during hypoxia in the anesthetized rabbit

The effects of hypoxic hypoxia on renal hemodynamics and metabolism have been studied in anaesthetized mechanically ventilated rabbits. Acute hypoxia (F₁O₂=0.10,PaO₂=35 torr) induces at constant mean arterial pressure a 45% decrease in RBF, GFR, $\dot T{\text{Na}}$ and $R\dot V{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}$ whereas free water clearance increases. These alterations were still apparent 50 min after resuming normal arterial oxygenation. In order to assess the role of the stimulation of catecholamine release in these observations, two other sets of experiments were performed: 1) the animals were ventilated with the same hypoxic gas mixture but after α adrenergic blockade (phentolamine: 0.2 mg·kg·min⁻¹ i.v.), 2) hypoxia was induced by ventilating the animals with CO (F_ICO=0.002) at constantPaO₂. Increase in renal vascular resistance and reduction of renal O₂ uptake were still observed. This indicates that adrenergic stimulation cannot fully explain the renal vasoconstriction encountered in hypoxia. The role of a local vasoactive factor, especially that of the renin angiotensin system is discussed. The apparent O₂ cost of Na reabsorption was not greatly modified by any type of hypoxia and the Na:O₂ ratio remained close to the value observed in normoxic animals. This indicates that the kidney may adapt to hypoxia by reducing its O₂ demand keeping unaltered its tubular function and basal O₂ needs.