Renal Hemoglobin Transport: Glomerular Permeability and Tubular Reabsorption During Infusions of L-Norepinephrine

¹ From the Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Administration Hospital, West Haven, and Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

Effect of pressor doses of 1-norepinephrine on the glomerular permeability to hemoglobin relative to creatinine and on the rate of tubular reabsorption of hemoglobin was examined in anesthetized dogs following the administration of 2.0 grams of dog hemoglobin solution intravenously in a single dose. The administration of this hormone resulted in an increase in the relative glomerular permeability to hemoglobin and an increase in the maximal rate of tubular reabsorption of hemoglobin in 8 of 10 animals. Since glomerular filtration rate tended to fall or remained unchanged, the amount of hemoglobin reabsorbed per unit of filtrate also increased in these 8 studies. In one animal the relative glomerular permeability to hemoglobin did not change and in one it diminished. In these 2 studies tubular reabsorption remained constant or fell. Hence an inter-relationship between permeability and reabsorption appeared to exist. The mechanism of these changes was not established.