AN EXAMINATION OF SOME FACTORS WHICH ALTER GLOMERULAR ACTIVITY IN THE RABBIT KIDNEY

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Abstract
Renal clearance procedures were used to evaluate kidney function in 368 clearance periods on 41 [male] [male]. Marked alterations in the rate of glomerular filtration, the renal plasma flow and the number of functioning glomeruli were readily produced experimentally in the rabbit. Increases in these values followed the admn. of water by stomach tube and decreases accompanied the admn. of ether by inhalation. Under basal conditions, however, the glomerular filtration rate, the renal plasma flow and the number of functioning glomeruli remained constant for long periods of time. Random variations in urine flow under control conditions resulted simply from alterations in the rate of water reabsorp-tion by the renal tubules. Similarly, diuresis following the intraven. admn. of mannitol and theophylline was achieved by reduction of tubular water reabsorption without alterations in glomerular activity. Deep anesthesia was induced by the intravenous admn. of Na pentobarbital without the occurrence of concomitant changes in blood pressure or renal function values. The constancy of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rates which was characteristically maintained under control conditions for long periods of time, even in the untrained rabbit, recommends the use of this animal for instructional and research studies in kidney physiology.