Simultaneous Measurement of Blood Flow, Glomerular Filtration Rate and Urine Secretion in the Separate Kidneys of Anesthetized Rabbits

Abstract A method has been evolved for studies on anesthetized rabbits of the renal uptake, extraction and excretion of substances. Renal vasoconstriction, which frequently occurs in rabbits during surgical procedures, was partly prevented by premedication with reserpine. In 11 anesthetized rabbits, variations in renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, urine flow and extraction of diodrast were simultaneously studied. Stability of‐renal blood flow, glomerular filtration and urine flow could be maintained for several hours. By means of changes in the blood volume or the size of the extracellular fluid space, variations could readily be produced in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. These two variables showed strong correlation. Diodrast extraction showed no large variations. The right and the left kidney varied in the same way with respect to blood flow, glomerular filtration rate and urine flow.