Objective To evaluate the protective effect of selective segmental renal artery clamping (SSRAC) on the remnant solitary-kidney underwent partial nephrectomy so as to provide a foundation for the using of SSRAC in clinical practices. Methods A total of 12 male pigs were randomized equally into 2 groups according to the method of renal artery clamping such as main renal artery clamping (MRAC) and SSRAC.The preoperative serum creatinine (SCr) of the MRAC group and the SSRAC group were (91.88±9.34) mol/L and (92.92±10.52) mol/L, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were (5.49±0.74) mmol/L and (4.89±0.70) mmol/L, T2 relaxation time of the left kidney were (34.08±2.43) ms and (34.60±2.15) ms, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the left kidney were (2.70±0.06)×10-3 mm2/s and (2.65±0.08)×10-3 mm2/s, all without significant differences (P>0.05). Each subject underwent right radical nephrectomy to create the condition of a solitary kidney.On the left kidney, a lower pole partial nephrectomy was performed, employing either SSRAC or MRAC for 60 minutes.SCr and BUN were measured at 6 time points thereafter (day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 90). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 4 time points thereafter (day 1, 7, 28, 90) using a 3.0T magnet, and T2 relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the upper and middle pole of left kidney were detected.Inflammatory cell infiltration as well as interstitial fibrosis of the upper and middle pole of left kidney were determined using renal histology on the 1st and 90th day after operation. Results The values of SCr in the MRAC group ((342.47±30.50) μmol/L, (242.23±25.74) μmol/L, (154.43±15.65) μmol/L, (146.60±11.79) μmol/L, (149.00±13.07) μmol/L, (132.17±10.94) μmol/L) were significantly higher than those in the SSRAC group ((258.30±28.50) μmol/L, (133.37±13.54) μmol/L, (119.40±10.28) μmol/L, (122.27±9.16) μmol/L, (123.10±9.10) μmol/L, (93.20±9.90) μmol/L) on day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 90 after PN(P 0.05). On day 1, 7, 28 after PN, T2 relaxation time of the upper and middle pole of left kidney in the MRAC group((46.90±2.13) ms, (55.20±2.38) ms, (39.70±2.43) ms )were significantly higher than those in the SSRAC group((35.63±1.36) ms, (34.07±2.78) ms, (34.10±2.48) ms)(P 0.05). The upper and middle pole of left kidney in the MRAC group experienced extensive tubular hydropic degeneration on day 1, and on day 90 tubular hydropic degeneration alleviated; while no change was found in SSRAC group at the two time points. Conclusion Using SSRAC in PN, the damage of renal function is mild, and the remnant non-ischemic tissues don't experience edema and inflammatory cell infiltration, which shows that SSRAC has a protective effect on the remnant kidney in early and late stage after PN. Key words: Renal cell carcinoma; Partial nephrectomy; Selective segmental renal artery clamping; Ischemia-reperfusion injury; Renal function