Cardiovascular responses in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure

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Abstract
1 Autonomic and cardiovascular function were assessed in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure (ARF). 2 Rats with ARF had significantly lower mean arterial blood pressures and heart rates and significantly elevated plasma noradrenaline concentrations. 3 The chronotropic responses to right cervical sympathetic and vagal stimulation were diminished in rats with ARF. 4 The pressor and depressor responses to noradrenaline and nitroprusside respectively when expressed as a change in mmHg pressure were significantly reduced in rats with ARF when compared to controls. However, when the depressor responses to nitroprusside were expressed as a percentage fall in basal mean arterial pressure, with the exception of the response to a dose of 10 μg kg−1, there were no significant differences between control and uraemic rats. 5 The present findings show that in the rat, changes in cardiovascular responsiveness occur after a brief period of uraemia which are similar to those observed in patients and rats with chronic renal failure.