Functional and morphological changes in the rat kidney after long-term adrenaline application

Summary A 24 h lasting long term adrenaline application in the form of subcutaneously implanted retard-tablets causes functional and morphological changes in the kidney, which are dose dependent and either reversible or irreversible. Animals in the V 15 group received one 15 mg and in the V 30 group two 15 mg adrenaline tablets resp. The tablets were removed after 24 h and a clearance depot capsule was implanted in the abdominal cavity. The test period extended from 22 h after removal of the retard tabl. to 21 d thereafter. Inulin (except the V 30 grp.), PAH and urea clearance are showing no significant differences. The data of urine γ-GT activity, urea and urea-N in serum and urine, s-glucose, s-triglycerides, Combur-8-test, Na + and K + levels are in normal ranges. Morphological changes were found in the glomerula and tubular regions. Both the number of damaged nephrons and the extent of the damage depend upon the doses of adrenaline given. All glomerula with visible serious changes are irreversibly damaged; this was not true in case of the tubule. In the latter, after 7 d, the fatty deposits had diminished or disappeared.