John B. Robinette

Smooth muscle calcium and endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the abnormal vascular responses of acute renal failure.

Abnormal renovascular reactivity, characterized by paradoxical vasoconstriction to a reduction in renal perfusion pressure (RPP) in the autoregulatory range, increased sensitivity to renal nerve stimulation (RNS), and loss of vasodilatation to acetylcholine have all been demonstrated in ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). To determine if ischemic injury alters vascular contractility by increasing smooth muscle cell calcium or calcium influx, the renal blood flow (RBF) response to reductions in RPP within the autoregulatory range and to RNS were tested before and after a 90-min intrarenal infusion of verapamil or diltiazem in 7-d ischemic ARF rats. Both calcium entry blockers, verapamil and diltiazem, blocked the aberrant vasoconstrictor response to a reduction in RPP and RNS (both P less than 0.001). In a second series of experiments the potential role of an ischemia-induced endothelial injury and of the absence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) production were examined to explain the lack of vasodilatation to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine, bradykinin (a second EDRF-dependent vasodilator), or prostacyclin, an EDRF-independent vasodilator, was infused intrarenally for 90 min, and RBF responses to a reduction in RPP and RNS were tested in 7-d ischemic ARF rats. Neither acetylcholine nor bradykinin caused vasodilatation or altered the slope of the relationship between RBF and RPP. By contrast, prostacyclin increased RBF (P less than 0.001), but did not change the vascular response to changes in RPP. It was concluded that the abnormal pressor sensitivity to a reduction in RPP and RNS was due to changes in renovascular smooth muscle cell calcium activity that could be blocked by calcium entry blockers. A lack of response to EDRF-dependent vasodilators, as a result of ischemic endothelial injury, may contribute to the increased pressor sensitivity of the renal vessels.

The Acute Effect of 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol on Renal Handling of Phosphorus: EVIDENCE FOR A PARATHYROID HORMONE-DEPENDENT MECHANISM

The acute effect of i.v. and direct intrarenal arterial infusion of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25HCC) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-DHCC) on renal handling of phosphorus was evaluated in the following groups of rats: (a) intact animals, (b) parathyroidectomized (PTX) hypocalcemic rats, (c) PTX rats in which normocalcemia was maintained with calcium supplements and (d) PTX animals in which urinary phosphorus was augmented by (i) i.v. sodium phosphate, (ii) expansion of the extracellular fluid volume with normal saline, and (iii) i.v. parathyroid hormone (PTH). Clearances of inulin (C(In)), phosphorus (C(P)), and fractional clearances of phosphorus (C(P)/C(In)) of the experimental groups were compared with those of the corresponding control groups, and the clearances of the infused kidneys with those of the contralateral kidneys. In intact animals, i.v. 25HCC decreased C(P)/C(In) from 0.29+/-0.04 (mean +/-SE) to 0.19+/-0.04, and i.v. 1,25-DHCC decreased C(P)/C(In) from 0.25+/-0.04 to 0.15+/-0.02. The intrarenal infusion of both 25HCC and 1,25DHCC into intact animals failed to produce a unilateral change; however, it decreased C(P)/C(In) bilaterally. i.v. and intrarenal infusions of 25HCC or 1,25DHCC in PTX hypocalcemic and normocalcemic rats, and i.v. infusions of 25HCC in PTX rats receiving either sodium phosphate or normal saline, all failed to produce significant changes in C(P)/C(In). In contrast, 24HCC given i.v. to PTX animals receiving exogenous PTH was associated with a significant fall in C(P)/C(In), from 0.34+/-0.08 to 0.13+/-0.02. These results indicate that 25HCC enhances tubular reabsorption of phosphorus in rats, only in the presence of either endogenous or exogenous circulating PTH, but not in its absence and thus imply a PTH-dependent mechanism of 25HCC action on the kidney. This effect does not appear to be related to the conversion of 25HCC into 1,25DHCC, since the latter fails to affect tubular reabsorption of phosphorus in PTX rats.

Variations in Arterial Blood Pressure after Kidney Transplantation Relation to Renal Function, Plasma Renin Activity, and the Dose of Prednisone

The course of hypertension within the first 2 months after kidney transplantation was correlated with renal function, plasma renin activity (PRA), and the daily maintenance dose of prednisone in 18 homograft recipients. During acute rejection blood pressure (BP) closely correlated with PRA. Patients with normal homograft function showed an increase in BP early after transplantation which in most returned to normal 3-8 weeks later. In the latter group no correlation could be found between the level of BP and PRA, however the BP correlated closely with the dose of prednisone. These observations suggest that during acute rejection the increase in BP may at least partly be mediated by a renal pressor mechanism, whereas with normal renal function the high dose of glucocorticoids may play an important role in the development of hypertension.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: Conservative Management in Patients With Renal Insufficiency

In three patients with advanced renal disease (inulin clearance, 4.6 to 9.1 ml/min) and systemic manifestations of secondary hyperparathyroidism, concentrations of serum calcium and phosphorus were maintained within our normal limits (9 and 3.5 mg/100 ml, respectively) with phosphate-binding antacids and orally given calcium carbonate. The result was progressive disappearance of symptoms related to secondary hyperparathyroidism, healing of osteitis fibrosa, and normalization of serum concentrations of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone.

Effect of Oral Calcium Carbonate on Urinary Excretion of Ca, Na and Mg in Advanced Renal Disease:

Summary The effect of oral calcium carbonate on serum levels and urinary excretion of calcium sodium and magnesium was evaluated in 10 patients with advanced renal disease. A rise in serum calcium which was observed in all patients was associated with increased urinary excretions of calcium, sodium and magnesium, suggesting that common reabsorptive mechanism(s) are underlying the renal handling of these ions also in advanced renal disease. A decrease in serum magnesium which was noticed in all patients could be explained by a decreased intestinal absorption, an increased urinary loss, or both. This study was partly supported by a Grant FR-51 from the General Clinical Research Centers Program of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.