Induction of chronic renal failure in the mouse: a new model.

An animal model with experimental uremia is an important research tool for the study of the sequence of pathophysiological events taking place in the uremic syndrome. An appreciable number of animal models and methods for the induction of chronic uremia have been published. It is surprising that no such method has been reported in the mouse, which is an important laboratory animal. A new method for the induction of chronic uremia in the mouse is described. It consists of unilateral destruction of most of the renal cortex by burns combined with contralateral nephrectomy. This method can be carried out in one or two stages. Follow-up of the experimental animals reveals that significant uremia developed within 4 weeks and remained constant for the rest of the study period, i.e. 10 weeks.