Inhibition by indomethacin of adaptive changes in the contralateral kidney after release of unilateral ureteral occlusion

Over the past several years, the pathophysiologic alterations in obstructive nephropathy have received considerable attention [1]. In most instances, the changes that occur during the period of ureteral occlusion or immediately after release of obstruction have been studied. The alterations in renal hemodynamics and function differ considerably in animals subjected to acute unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO) and those subjected to bilateral ureteral occlusion (BUO) [1–3). In animals subjected to UUO, the contralateral unoperated kidney is frequently used as a control organ [1].Although the compensatory changes that occur after the loss of renal function or mass are well known, the adaptive alterations in renal function and hemodynamics that occur in the contralateral kidney after release of UUO have not been well delineated, and the mechanisms responsible for those changes are unknown. During the investigations of the pattern of recovery from an obstructive renal injury, we noted previously undescribed adaptive changes in the contralateral kidney that occurred 24 hours after release of UUO. The present study was designed (1) to delineate the adaptive changes in the contralateral kidney after release of UUO, (2) to compare those adaptive changes to the compensatory changes that occur following the loss of renal mass or function, and (3) to determine if the adaptive changes could be altered by the infusion of indomethacin