A reproducible model for chronic renal failure in the mouse.

Chronic renal failure was induced in mice using bilateral electrocoagulation of the renal cortex. Thermal injury via an angled point cautery was applied to the fully exteriorized right kidney. Following a 10-day interval the left kidney was injured in a similar fashion. The incidence of local complications was negligible and because of the limited blood loss, very small laboratory animals can be used. By restricting trauma to varying proportions of the visible cortex graded levels of injury were obtained. Thus this model can produce a uniform pattern of renal failure and will therefore facilitate the acquisition of information on the biological consequences of chronic uraemia.