Effect of the beta-receptor blocker pindolol on survival in HgCl2 induced acute renal failure in dogs.

The effect of the beta receptor blocker pindolol on survival was investigated in HgCl2 intoxicated dogs. A single injection of 100 microgram/kg b.w. pindolol intravenously (i.v.) caused a significant rise in urinary sodium excretion and a significant decrease of plasma renin activity (PRA) and urinary norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) excretion in control dogs. A single injection of 3 mg/kg HgCl2 i.v. resulted in death of the animals within 3-5 days. Pretreatment with the above dose of pindolol increased length of survival 4-8 days, two dogs recovering from acute renal failure (ARF). The degree of azotemia was smaller in the pretreated group than in the control dogs given HgCl2 only. Pindolol prevented the HgCl2 induced marked increases of urinary catecholamine excretion and PRA. These findings support the hypothesis that increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the pathomechanism of the nephrotoxic model of ARF. Pindolol pretreatment decreases the severity of ARF though it can not prevent it.