Studies in acute renal failure: II. Incidence, mortality, urinary and plasma chemical alterations and clinical characteristics of reversible acute renal failure in the rat

Abstract

Acute renal failure may be produced in diettreated, dehydrated rats by the simultaneous intravenous injection of methemoglobin (0.5 gm. per kg.) and sodium ferrocyanide (14.3 mg. per kg.). At this dose level, the average incidence of acute renal failure is 80 per cent (as measured by abnormally elevated levels of plasma urea nitrogen 48 hours following injection), and the mortality approximates 13 per cent. In these studies, as in man, acute renal failure is identified by the characteristic development of azotemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, decreased plasma bicarbonate concentration, oliguria followed by diuresis, changes in urinary specific gravity, sodium and potassium concentrations, proteinuria, cast forms in the urinary sediment, renal histologic alterations and discrete clinical manifestations, all of which are spontaneously reversible. Acute renal failure may be produced in diettreated, dehydrated rats by the simultaneous intravenous injection of methemoglobin (0.5 gm. per kg.) and sodium ferrocyanide (14.3 mg. per kg.). At this dose level, the average incidence of acute renal failure is 80 per cent (as measured by abnormally elevated levels of plasma urea nitrogen 48 hours following injection), and the mortality approximates 13 per cent. In these studies, as in man, acute renal failure is identified by the characteristic development of azotemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, decreased plasma bicarbonate concentration, oliguria followed by diuresis, changes in urinary specific gravity, sodium and potassium concentrations, proteinuria, cast forms in the urinary sediment, renal histologic alterations and discrete clinical manifestations, all of which are spontaneously reversible.