Occlusion of the adrenal vein leads to an increase in renal vascular resistance in the ipsilateral kidney.

Abstract

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an acute increase in blood flow through the adrenal-renal vascular connection (ARVC), due to occlusion of the adrenal vein, on renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR). 2. Experiments were performed in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Animals were divided into four groups. In the first group, the adrenal vein was clamped using a metal clip. In the second group, the tissue between the adrenal gland and the kidney was cut before clamping. In the third and fourth groups, alpha-adrenoceptor blockade was induced by intravenous infusion of phentolamine before clamping the adrenal vein. In addition, in the fourth group, tissue between the adrenal gland and the kidney was cut before clamping. 3. In the first group, occlusion of the adrenal vein caused an increase in RVR, followed by a decrease in RBF. In the second, third and fourth groups, the same procedure did not change either RBF or RVR. 4. We conclude that the augmented inflow of catecholamines to the kidney through the ARVC changes the haemodynamics of the kidney and may contribute to development of arterial hypertension due to occlusion of the adrenal vein.