Reduced renal reserve and increased cardiac output in adult female sheep uninephrectomized as fetuses

Abstract

Background. Removal of one kidney during the period of nephrogenesis in the sheep leads to offspring with elevated blood pressure and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 6 and 12 months of age. The mechanisms underlying the hypertension and the degree of renal impairment are not known. Methods. Changes in GFR were measured in response to an infusion of amino acids and cardiac output was measured by thermal dilution in female offspring at 2 years of age in eight control (sham-operated) and seven animals that had been unilaterally nephrectomized at 100 days of gestation. Results. Animals uninephrectomized as fetuses had significantly higher blood pressure (91 ± 2 mm Hg) compared to con..