1988 Volume 79 Issue 4 Pages 654-659
Glomerular and proximal tubular functions of the surface nephron after release of complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (CUUO) were studied in rats. The superficial proximal tubule in which Lissamine Green (L. G.) appeared in the first 30sec after intravenous injection of L. G. was defined as a Functioning Nephron (F. N.). Number of F. N. (Nf) was used as an index of glomerular function. Proximal tubular function was assessed by the peritubular membrane potential of the proximal tubular cell (EM).
Nf increased significantly 1hr after release of obstruction in both 3 day' and 1 week'CUUO. One week after release of obstruction, a further significant increase in Nf was observed in 1 week'CUUO but not in 3 days'CUUO.
Superficial proximal tubule in which L. G. appeared in the first 16sec was defined as a good F. N. In both 3 days' and 1 week'CUUO, the ratio of good F. N. to F. N. (%gNf) increased 1hr after release of obstruction. A further increase in %gNf was observed one week after release of obstruction. The data indicate that the individual nephron function continues to recover till one week after release of obstruction.
EM increased significantly 1hr after release of obstruction in both 3 days' and 1 week'CUUO. However, no further significant increase in EM was observed one week after release of obstruction in both 3 days' and 1 week'CUUO. One week after release of obstruction Nf and EM were still significantly lower than the corresponding control values.
The data suggest: 1) Nf continues to increase with an improvement of the filtrative function of the individual nephron for 1 week after release of obstruciton, 2) the recovery of proximal tubular function is completed immediately after release of obstruction, and 3) filtrative function is slow in recovery compared to the proximal tubular function.
