Experimental obstructive hydronephrosis in newborn rats. V. Long-term effects on renal tissue solute content.

Partial obstruction of 1 ureter was created in newborn rats and its effects were studied in the adult rat. The obstructed renal pelvis was found to be about 6 times enlarged and the weight of the kidney was 85 per cent of the contralateral intact one. Despite considerable distortion of the inner medulla on the obstructed side, no loss of weight in this region was observed. The only changes observed with respect to tissue concentrations--which were significantly due to the obstruction--were increases in urea in the cortex (110 per cent) and in potassium in the inner medulla (21 per cent); thus, the changes were few and, in part, moderate. The findings are compared with previous observations of solute excretions and the pathophysiological implications are discussed. The conclusion is that although the inner medulla was considerably distorted, the solute content was far from being affected to a corresponding degree--at least not in this experimental preparation.