The effects of oestrogen, ACTH and cortisone administration and hypophysectomy on histological changes induced by unilateral renal pedicle clamping.

A study was made in rats of the histological changes occurring in the kidney after temporary application of clamps to the renal pedicle following oestrogen, ACTH and cortisone treatments and removal of the pituitary. It was found that the tubular damage is increased to a small extent by oestrogen administration and to a more significant degree by ACTH and cortisone treatments. In rats hypophysectomized for several weeks the tubular necrosis either did not occur at all or only to an extremely mild degree. The investigations suggest that the change in sensitivity of the tubular epithelial cells to hypoxia may play a role in the development of the renal cortical necrosis induced by hormone treatment.