Analysis of renal function in the two-kidney Goldblatt model.

We analyzed the renal functional responses in all rats 4-6 wk after application of a clip to one renal artery and maintained on either a normal NaCl-intake or a NaCl-depletion protocol utilizing both clearance methods and micropuncture evaluations of glomerular hemodynamics. Although mean arterial pressure (MAP) rose significantly, the response was quite variable and the frequency and degree of hypertension independent of NaCl dietary protocol (142 +/- 7 vs. 137 +/- 6 mmHg, NS). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the unclipped kidney was well maintained regardless of absolute MAP, however, GFR in the clipped kidney was somewhat MAP dependent. The glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient (LpA) was reduced in all clipped rats independent of MAP and dietary NaCl (0.037 +/- 0.002 vs. 0.063 +/- 0.009 nl X s-1 X mmHg-1, P less than 0.05). Glomerular capillary hydrostatic (PG) and glomerular capillary hydrostatic gradient (delta P) were elevated in all clipped rats, regardless of MAP, and to a greater extent in clipped rats maintained on the NaCl-depletion protocol (PG, 59.6 vs. 53.2, P less than 0.05). Among clipped rats, multiple regression analysis revealed no correlation between PG or delta P and the degree of reduction in LpA. The unclipped kidney of the two-kidney, one-clip model is characterized by uniform reductions in LpA independent of the MAP and awake blood pressure produced. Although the increase in PG and delta P may contribute to the reduction in LpA observed, the degree of LpA reduction is independent of the magnitude of elevation in PG and delta P in clipped rats.