Effect of liver on changes in renal dynamics caused by lysed red blood cells

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

The effect of an intraportal infusion of homologous lysed red blood cells on GFR and ERPF were recorded in dogs. The significant renal vasoconstriction noted when the lysed red blood cell infusion was administered to a dog via a peripheral (brachial) vein was not present in these dogs receiving the intraportal infusion. Alternate infusion between the portal and brachial veins in individual dog experiments demonstrated a significant depression of GFR and ERPF during the peripheral infusion and insignificant effect during the portal infusion. It is postulated that the active renal vasoconstrictive substance in lysed red blood cells is either delayed, diluted or modified chemically by passage through the liver.