Prostaglandin I2 attenuates ischemic acute renal failure in the rat.

We gave prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) (8 ng X kg-1 X min-1 i.v.) for 20 min before, during, and 20 min after clamping of the rat left renal artery for 40 min to evaluate the effect of PGI2 in this model of acute renal failure. Control animals were given glycine buffer (PGI2 diluent). Glomerular filtration rate was estimated by the clearance of inulin 24 h later from each kidney. In group I rats (studied during hydropenia) inulin clearance in the control (right) kidney averaged 1.4 ml/min. Inulin clearance in kidneys exposed to 40 min of ischemia was 0.05 (glycine treated) versus 0.22 (PGI2 treated) ml/min. Although PGI2 offered significant protection in the group I animals, the differences were small and many of the glycine-treated ischemic kidneys were anuric. In the group II studies the same protocol was employed except that 5% body wt volume expansion was done with Ringer solution prior to measurement of inulin clearance. In the group II rats inulin clearance in control (right) kidneys averaged 1.5 ml/min. Inulin clearance after 40 min of renal ischemia was 0.04 ml/min in glycine-treated rats versus 0.90 ml/min in PGI2-treated animals. Histological examination of the group II ischemic kidneys revealed cellular necrosis and cast formation in the S3 segments of the glycine-treated animals and significantly less necrosis and cast formation in the PGI2-treated animals. The degree of necrosis and casts was inversely related to inulin clearance. Accordingly, PGI2 significantly attenuated the fall in inulin clearance measured 24 h after ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)