High protein intake stimulates glomerular prostaglandin formation in remnant kidneys.

Reduction of renal mass in the rat results in an increased glomerular prostaglandin (PG) and thromboxane (TX) formation that modulates renal hemodynamics. To evaluate whether dietary protein intake could exert effects on renal PG and TX formation after reduction of approximately 70% of renal mass, rats with remnant kidneys were placed on either a high-protein (HP) or a low-protein (LP) diet. After 2 wk on the diet, proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary PGE2 excretion, and glomerular PGE2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, and TxB2 biosynthesis were significantly greater in the rats on HP diets. Two-wk administration of the thromboxane synthesis inhibitor UK 38485 reduced renal TxB2 formation by approximately 70%. In addition, chronic UK 38485 treatment significantly inhibited papillary PGE2 production. Neither chronic nor bolus administration of UK 38485 had an effect on proteinuria or GFR in rats on HP diets. Chronic UK 38485 treatment, however, reduced GFR and proteinuria in rats on LP diets. The bolus administration of UK 38485 did not alter GFR in animals receiving a LP diet. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin reduced GFR only in rats on HP diets. The data demonstrate that HP intake stimulates renal prostanoid formation. The increased prostaglandin formation on HP intake modulates GFR in these rats.