Reversible uremia and its effect on the glomerular filtration rate.

As the nephron population diminishes and azotemia develops, each remaining nephron adapts and increases its function by as much as 80%. To determine whether this adaption is permanent or transient, a rat model utilizing one remnant kidney and one normal control kidney was used. In stage one, immediately after ligation of the ureter to the control kidney, the glomerular filtration rate in the remnant kidney was 0.185 cm3/min. 1 week after ligation of the ureter to the control kidney, the glomerular filtration rate in the remnant kidney had increased to 0.336 cm3/min (stage two), and 2 weeks later, after removal of the obstruction to the control kidney, the glomerular filtration rate in the remnant kidney was 0.155 cm3/min (stage three), p less than 0.01.