Abstract:
Hydronephrosis is the most common reason for renal failure in childhood and it is also responsible for about 2% of all renal failures in adults. The blood-flow of the affected kidney is characterized by a distinct afferent vasoconstriction. Because, as one of many possible mediators, Adenosine had proved itself to be a potent afferent vasoconstrictor in the kidney, we examined in this study, whether exogenous or endogenous Adenosine affects the reduction of renal blood-flow in the hydronephrotic kidney. To induce an experimental hydronephrosis, an unilateral ureter-ligature (UUL) has been arranged in rats for 24 hours. The renal blood-flow (RBF) was measured with an electromagnetic flow-meter. To selectively block Adenosine-A1-receptors, a water-soluble antagonist (FK838) was used. For investigating the hemodynamic effects on endogenous Adenosine, the renal artery has been occluded for 30s and the post-occlusive RBF was measured. For investigating exogenous Adenosine, injections of doses from 0,01 – 100 nmol were applied through an intraaortal catheter. The resulting reduction of the renal blood-flow has been recorded.
After 24 hours of UUL, the RBF dropped to an average of 65% of the initial value, and was with 2,43 ± 0,71 ml/min x g kidney weight significantly different from the control group with 3,75 ± 0,72 ml/min x g kidney weight. The Adenosine injections in animals with SHAM ligated ureters led to a maximal RBF drop by 49% whereas in UUL animals the RBF dropped by 85%. However the experiments on the post-occlusive reduction of the RBF showed no difference between the groups SHAM und UUL. Under monitored conditions the RBF did not change when FK838 was applied, but the vasoconstrictive effects of the kidney on exogenous and endogenous Adenosine were antagonized.
Adenosine does not seem to be the mainly responsible mediator for the reduced RBF in the hydronephrotic kidney. However an increased sensitivity to exogenous Adenosine was found in the UUL kidney versus the control group. Concerning the post-occlusive reduction of the RBF between the groups there was no significant difference detectable with our methods. FK838 was potent to antagonize the ADO-A1-mediated reaction of the RBF as well on exogenous as on endogenous Adenosine.