Effect of endotoxin on kidney function and renal hemodynamics in the dog

¹ Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota

The effect of endotoxin on kidney function and renal hemodynamics in the intact dog has not been reported. The present study is a logical extension of previous work completed in eviscerated dogs and its purpose was to study the effects of lethal and sublethal injections of endotoxin on the kidney of the intact dog. PAH and creatinine clearance procedures were carried out in adult anesthetized animals. Findings show that administration of lethal doses of endotoxin results in impaired renal function which may be attributed to the effects of systemic hypotension, renal vasoconstriction, and a possible action of endotoxin on renal tubular activity. However, with sublethal doses of endotoxin, in which the systemic arterial blood pressure does not fall to hypotensive levels, a temporary increase in renal plasma flow may be observed which appears to be due to an effect of endotoxin on the kidney or to extrarenal influences.