Single glomerular filtration rate of superficial and Juxta-medullary nephrons in the rat during different types of arterial hypertension

Summary The single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) of superficial (S) and juxtamedullary (JM) nephrons were measured using¹⁴C-ferrocyanide infusion technique in rats under 3 different states of hypertension: acute hypertensions obtained either by bilateral carotid clamping (CC) or by contralateral renal ischemia (CI), and chronic Goldblatt hypertension. The juxtaglomerular index (JGI) was determined on the experimental kidneys.During acute hypertensions the JGI was normal, the granularity being more marked for the superficial than for the deep cortex. SNGFRs were higher in the JM (CC=39.2±3.4 SE nl/min; CI=41.0±4.5) than in the S (CC=30.3±2.5 CI=30.3±3.0) nephrons. These values are not different from those of normal rats. In the untouched kidney of Goldblatt rats the JGI was equal to zero. There was a general increase in SNGFRs. This increase was more marked for the S than for the JM nephrons, and the SNGFRs equalized in these two categories of nephrons (S=73.0±8.4; JM=74,7±8.2).From these observations, it is suggested that the renin content of the juxtaglomerular apparatus may play some role in the absolute value and intrarenal distribution of SNGFRs.This work was supported in part by a grant D.G.R.S.T. No. 7172 2726.Chargé de recherches à l'INSERM.     

Function of juxtamedullary nephrons in normotensive and chronically hypertensive rats

Summary The function of juxtamedullary nephrons was investigated by micropuncture of long loops of Henle at the exposed papilla in normal rats and in the untouched kidney of rats with experimental hypertension (unilateral Goldblattclip). With increasing blood pressure (range from 90–190 mm Hg) a continuous rise in juxtamedullary single nephron glomerular filtration rate was observed. Juxtamedullary single nephron GFR averaged 60×10^–6 ml/min/g K.W. in the control group (mean arterial blood pressure 116 mm Hg) and 114×10^–6 ml/min/g K.W. in the hypertensive group (mean arterial blood pressure (164 mm Hg). There was no change in superficial single nephron GFR (30×10^–6 ml/min/g K.W.) but a slight increase in total kidney GFR from 1.07 to 1.28 ml/min g K.W. In both the normotensive and the hypertensive animals, tubular fluid-to-plasma (TF/P) inulin ratio and intratubular flow rate in the descending limb of the long loops of Henle were not statistically different from those found in the ascending limb. Intratubular flow rate in the hypertensive rats was twice as high as in the controls; the mean TF/P inulin ratios in the two groups did not differ from each other. Appearance time of lissamine green in the long loops of Henle and in the collecting ducts was shortened in the hypertensive animals. It is concluded that there is no autoregulation of glomerular filtration rate in juxtamedullary nephrons. The increased juxtamedullary GFR may contribute to the elevated urinary excretion of the unclipped kidney in hypertensive rats.This paper was presented before the German Physiological Society, Mainz, March 1969 [11].     

The effect of saline infusion and hemorrhage on glomerular filtration pressure and single nephron filtration rate

Summary Single nephron filtration rate (GFRs) and effective glomerular filtration pressure (EFP) measured as the difference between intratubular stop-flow (SFP) and free-flow pressures (FFP), were determined in control rats and following saline infusion or hemorrhage. Infusion of isotonic or 4% NaCl increased EFP and GFRs without significantly affecting TF/P inulin. These findings could not be related to changes in arterial blood pressure. Controlled bleeding produced a marked decrease in EFP and in GFRs, again without significant change in TF/P-inulin. In both infusion and hemorrhage the change in GFRs was disproportionately greater than the change in EFP. Analysis of the components of the filtration process suggests that elevation of EFP is attended by an increase in permeability of the filtering membrane. This sensitive dependence of GFRs upon EFP, combined with a demonstrated constancy of total kidney GFR (GFR_T) over a wide range of urine concentrations and flow rates, connotes a close regulation of EFP in this experimental animal.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Micropuncture studies on the filtration rate of single superficial and juxtamedullary glomeruli in the rat kidney

Summary Single nephron filtration rates of superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons were determined in high and low sodium rats. Single nephron GFR was calculated from TF/P inulin and tubular flow rate in superficial nephrons and single juxtamedullary GFR from corresponding data in long loops of Henle. In low sodium rats superficial nephron GFR was 23.5±6.4 (SD)×10^–6 ml/min×g KW, juxtamedullary nephron GFR was 58.2±13.6 and total kidney GFR (C _In) was 0.94±0.16 ml/min×g KW. Using these single nephron values, total kidney GFR and a total number of 30,000 glomeruli per kidney, the number of superficial and juxtamedullary glomeruli was calculated to be 23,267 and 6,733, respectively. During high sodium diet superficial nephron GFR increased to 38.1±11.3 and single juxtamedullary GFR decreased to 16.5±6.6, total kidney GFR increasing to 1.01±0.24. Calculation again revealed the same distribution of the two nephron types. End-proximal TF/P inulin in superficial nephrons was 2.36±0.36 in low sodium and 2.31±0.28 in high sodium rats. Loops of Henle TF/P inulin and intratubular flow rate were inversely related: the highest TF/P inulin values and lowest intratubular flow rates were found in the descending limb. These data quantify the distribution of superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons on a functional basis and suggest a mechanism by which the kidney adjusts sodium excretion by altering the contribution of each nephron type to total kidney GFR.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the U.S. Department of the Army, through its European Research Office.     

Micropuncture method for the determination of nephron filtration rate

Summary Two possible artifacts may explain the phenomenon that nephron GFR (N-GFR) measured by distal tubular puncture is smaller than that measured by proximal tubular puncture: a loss of the inulin-like substance used in this laboratory (polyfructosan) from the tubular lumen or unreliable distal punctures. To test these possibilities (a) known amounts of polyfructosan were injected into the proximal tubule and the percentage recovery from the distal tubule measured, (b) N-GFR was measured by distal puncture, subsequently by recollection from the same site and finally by a proximal puncture.On the average, 98.5±7.5% of the proximally injected polyfructosan was recovered from the distal tubule. This is not significantly different from 100% (p>0.1) and demonstrates that proximal tubule and loop of Henle are impermeable to polyfructosan. The ratio between the N-GFR measured by a distal puncture and that measured by subsequent recollection was 1.016±0.096 and not significantly different from 1.000 (p<0.20), demonstrating the reliability of distal tubular puncture. The mean distal N-GFR of 27.9±5.3 nl/min was significantly smaller (p<0.001) than the proximal N-GFR of 35.1±8.0 nl/min. The existence of the proximal-distal N-GFR difference thus is confirmed and two possible artifacts eliminated. The best explanation remains the operation of a tubulo-glomerular feedback mechanism.A current point of dispute is the effect of alterations in intratubular pressure (ITP) on N-GFR. Collection of tubular fluid at ITPs below the previously measured free flow pressure (FFP) resulted in a change of N-GFR of 0.45 nl/min· cm H₂O. In contrast, fluid collection at ITPs greater than the FFP resulted in a change of N-GFR of 1.48 nl/min· cm H₂O. We conclude that although N-GFR is sensitive to ITP changes in both directions, pressure decreases are of little practical importance for the determination of N-GFR whereas intratubular pressure increases are to be avoided.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.On leave from the University of Melbourne as a recipient of a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.     

The effect of experimental alterations in urine concentration on nephron filtration rate

Summary Experiments were performed to clarify the cause of the dependency of juxtamedullary nephron filtration rate (JN-GFR) on the diuretic state of the animal. Using the ferrocyanide technique of de Rouffignacet. al. [5] the distribution of nephron filtration rates was determined during selective modification of final urine osmolarity by papillary superfusion with concentrated or isotonic solutions. Papillary superfusion with a 2000 mosmolar solution led to a mean urine osmolarity of 1848±78 mOsm/l. JN-GFR displayed a mean increase of 66.6% over the superficial nephron filtration rate (SN-GFR). When the superfusion fluid was isotonic urine osmolarity averaged 754±53 mOsm/l and JN-GFR increased by a mean of only 26.3% over the SN-GFR. Using the micropuncture technique it was shown that SN-GFR in a given animal was not altered when the superfusion fluid was interchanged. We conclude therefore that the change in the percentage increase in GFR from superficial to juxtamedullary nephrons is caused by a change of juxtamedullary nephron filtration rate. Since plasma ADH concentration was not altered this effect appears to be elicited by the changed medullary solute concentration rather than by a vasomotor action of the antidiuretic hormone.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Regulation of superficial nephron filtration rate by tubulo-glomerular feedback

Summary Possible regulation of glomerular filtration rate by tubulo-glomerular feedback from a late tubular site was studied in microperfusion experiments on rats. During perfusion of loops of Henle with varying flow rates and different perfusion solutions, filtration rate of the perfused nephrons was measured by total proximal fluid collection and inulin determination. During perfusion with isotonic Ringer's solution nephron filtration rate decreased significantly with increasing perfusion rates. Since proximal intratubular pressure was experimentally kept constant, this response must reflect decreased glomerular capillary pressure. Increasing the flow rate during perfusion with isotonic sodium sulfate or mannitol solutions was not associated with significant changes of filtration rate. Thus some correlate of the flow rate of normal loop of Henle fluid can affect filtrate formation. Such an effect may be mediated by the juxtaglomerular apparatus. Our results are consistent with the concept that the triggering signal is a function of the amount of distal sodium that is able to permeate the cell membrane at the receptor site rather than of distal intratubular sodium concentration.On leave from the Department of Physiology, University of Melbourne as recipient of a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.     

The tubulo-glomerular feedback mechanism — a determinant for the autoregulation of the glomerular filtration rate in superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons

Summary The intrinsic myogenic hypothesis and the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism (TGF) give the presently most cherished explanation to the autoregulation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. A series of experiments was performed on young, normohydrated rats in order to evaluate the importance of TGF as an autoregulatory factor of the single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) in superficial and juxtamedullary nephron populations. Micropuncture techniques were applied to tubular structures of the renal surface and on the papilla for the measurement of hydrostatic pressures and SNGFR. The SNGFR was also measured with a modified Hanssen technique. A TV-technique was used to record the urine free flow rate in the loop of Henle.The net driving forces for glomerular filtration at the afferent end of the glomerular capillaries were estimated to be 19 and 47 mm Hg for superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons respectively, when the urine flow at the macula densa was zero. The SNGFR of the two nephron populations amounted to 29.6 and 84.1 nl·min^–1·g^–1 K.W., as measured with the micropuncture technique. With a modified Hanssen technique the corresponding values were 25.8 and 27.7 nl·min^–1. g^–1 K.W. (kidney weight).The SNGFR was found to be well autoregulated when the urine flow at the macula densa was intact, but not when the urine flow was interrupted.The flow rate in the loop of Henle was in free flow conditions 7.3 nl·min^–1·g^–1 K.W. which shall be compared with 19.2 nl·min^–1·g^–1 K.W. when the urine flow to the macula densa was zero.We conclude that SNGFR is mainly autoregulated by the TGF-mechanism in young, normohydrated rats at lower arterial pressures. In normal conditions TGF is highly activated for juxtamedullary nephrons, but not for the superficial ones. The high urine flow rate in the loop of Henle at reduced flow rates at the macula densa may invalidate the use of loop blockade in studies of water and solute transfer across the loop walls.     

Technical problems in the micropuncture determination of nephron filtration rate and their functional implications

Summary The theory of a functional coupling between distal tubular fluid composition and glomerular filtration rate implies that the blockade of flow at a proximal site should lead to a marked increase of GFR. This potential alteration of steady state GFR was studied by comparing the influence of sampling from distal or proximal sites on the filtration rate of identical nephrons. During antidiuresis an average GFR of 25.2 nl/min±7.5 S.D. was found in distal collections, while proximally collected samples gave an average GFR of 34.5 nl/min±8.4 S.D. This difference of 9.3 nl/min is highly significant (p<0.001). During saline diuresis a mean nephron GFR of 41.6 nl/min±5.0 was found by distal sampling and of 45.3 nl/min±5.4 by proximal sampling (p>0.05). The proximal-distal difference in nephron GFR is interpreted to indicate the operation of a tubulo-glomerular feedback control system. Thus, a true steady-state GFR probably cannot be obtained by proximal fluid collection.Even in the presence of high intratubular pressures and unusually short oil blocks no evidence of sample contamination by retrograde fluid flow past an injected oil block was obtained.The application of a counter-pressure to the sampling pipette which has been recommended by Gertzet al. [5] as a means to standardize fluid collections, was found to lead to abnormally high intratubular pressures. The reason for this finding appears to be an unexpectedly high and inconstant tip resistance to flow during fluid flow into the pipette.     

The effect of antidiuretic hormone on the distribution of nephron filtration rates in rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus

Summary The effect of antidiuretic hormone on the distribution of nephron filtration rates was studied in rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus using the Hanssen method for determination of nephron filtration rates as modified by de Rouffignacet al. [18]. Conversion of water diuresis to antidiuresis by infusion of ADH resulted in a moderate, but highly significant increase in the filtration rate of the juxtamedullary nephrons, while the nephrons of all other cortex regions filtered at an unaltered rate. A mechanism based on the action of ADH on distal nephron water permeability is proposed as an explanation: water inflow into the medulla very likely decreases when water diuresis is converted to antidiuresis. This occasions a rise in medullary osmolality which then causes an increase in the apparent viscosity of the blood flowing through the vasa recta. This is responsible for a rise in juxtamedullary postglomerular resistance which results in an increase in the effective filtration pressure and thus in the juxtamedullary nephron filtration rate. The results suggest that an increased juxtamedullary filtration rate participates in the establishment and maintenance of the inner medullary solute gradients, possibly as a consequence of an increased solute delivery to the ascending limbs of the long loops of Henle.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.On leave from the University of Melbourne as a recipient of a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.     

Developmental changes in nephron number, proximal tubular length and superficial nephron glomerular filtration rate of rats.

1. Post-natal development of single nephron glomerular filtration rate, superficial proximal tubular length, nephron number and kidney weight have been studied in Sprague Dawley and in Wistar rats. 2. Superficial tubular length is a non-linear function of body weight or age. There seems to be a rapid growth until animals weigh about 150 g in Wistar rats. In this strain, growth is slower thereafter. This difference is not as evident in Sprague Dawley rats. 3. Nephron numbers increase over the same period at which rapid tubular growth occurs. 4. Sprague Dawley rats have somewhat fewer, but longer, proximal tubules than do Wistar rats. 5. In all animals weighing more than 100 g, SNGFR is linearly related to weight. For younger, smaller Sprague Dawley rats, the same linearity holds over the age range studied--older than 20 days of age. In Wistar rats, SNGFR relative to weight is less in young animals. 6. By relating SNGFR to total kidney GFR, evidence is obtained that maturation of renal function also involves a greater increase in filtration by superficial than by juxtamedullary nephrons.     

Correlation between single nephron glomerular filtration rate and filtration area in superficial glomeruli of developing rats

Single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) was correlated to the area of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) determined by stereological techniques in rats between 20 and 40 days of age. Single nephron glomerular filtration rate increased 8.4 times in parallel with a twofold increase in GBM area. The much greater postnatal increase in SNGFR than in GBM area demonstrates that the increase in GBM area cannot account for the entire increase in SNGFR. Instead a combination of other factors influencing SNGFR most likely determines the largest part of the increase in SNGFR during this period. Thus, the drop in vascular resistance known to occur during maturation will increase the renal blood flow and may cause the filtration process to turn from a state of filtration equilibrium to or close to disequilibrium, thereby increasing GFR. Additional increase in GFR may be due to an increased net driving force for filtration and/or changed hydraulic permeability.     

Development of glomerular filtration rate and electrolyte and osmolal clearance in the late-embryonic and newly hatched chicken

Summary Techniques have been developed for collection of urine in embryonic and newly hatched chickens for the purpose of studying the development of renal function.The reliability of EDTA-⁵¹Cr as a substitute for inulin-¹⁴C in the determination of GFR was studied. Since inulin and EDTA-⁵¹Cr clearances in the hatched chicken averaged 1.61±0.23 (S.E.) ml/min per kg body weight and 1.58±0.27 ml/min per kg body weight, respectively, EDTA-⁵¹Cr clearance was considered a suitable measure of GFR.GFR increased significantly in the first few days after hatching. Filtration rate was 0.068±0.008 (S.E.) ml/min per g kidney weight in the embryo and increased to 0.148±0.008 ml/min per g shortly after hatching. By nine days after hatching GFR had risen to 0.290±0.015 ml/min per g, a value comparable to that reported for the adult.Clearances of sodium, potassium, chloride and total osmolyte also increased with age. When these clearances were corrected for changing glomerular filtration rates the embryonic chicks were found to excrete a greater percentage of the filtered load. These results show that adult levels of glomerulo-tubular balance are not attained until after hatching.A preliminary report of this work has already been published [3].     

Measurement of Na K ATPase activity in segments of proximal tubules from superficial and juxtamedullary rat nephrons during antidiuresis

Summary The role of active sodium transport in the partes rectae of subcortical and juxtamedullary proximal nephrons has not yet been established. Recent knowledge of the histotopographical positions of both types of pars recta has now enabled them to be accurately distinguished and isolated from freeze-dried sections. Na K ATPase activity was measured in single dissected tubular segments by an ultramicro method. No significant difference in Na K ATPase activity in the partes rectae from subcortical and juxtamedullary nephrons could be detected.     

Effect of barbiturates on GFR and fluid reabsorption along proximal convoluted tubules and loops of henle in rats

Summary In the present study we investigated the possibility that GFR and fluid reabsorption are systematically altered by dose and/or structure of different barbiturate compounds. The results show that filtration and absorption rates are identical in rats anaesthetized with 100 or 150 mg/kg BW. Elevating the administered amount by intravenous injections of inactin did not alter renal functions compared to values measured immediately before the additional administration. No differences of GFR and absorption rates were noted when the effect of inactin, amytal, and nembutal in doses necessary to induce and maintain anaesthesia was compared. Absolute and fractional absorption was observed to decrease by 20 to 25% in the first 3 h after induction of anaesthesia independent of the anaesthetic used. Our results suggest that filtration and absorption rates are not systematically modified by specific anaesthetic effects, at least not when doses are kept close to the necessary minimum.Work performed during tenure of an Alexander von Humboldt-Dozentenstipendium.     

Single nephron filtration,luminal flow and tubular fluid reabsorption along the proximal convolution and the pars recta of the rat kidney as influenced by luminal pressure changes

Summary Intratubular pressures were measured in free flow and after blockade of tubular flow at different distances from the glomerulum in the kidney of Wistar rats. Free flow pressure wasffp=13.3 ±2.5 Torr and stop flow pressuresfp=41.7±3.8 Torr. With increasing distance of the blockade from the glomerulum the intratubular pressure decreased being 22.4±2.1 Torr, when the tubule was blocked at the end of the pars recta. In a second series single nephron filtration rate (gfr) and late proximal flow rates were measured at different intratubular pressures. Free flowgfr _f was 26.5±5.9 nl/min and . The difference of these flow rates divided by tubular length results in a local reabsorption rate ofC=2.9±0.9 nl/min·mm in the proximal convolution. In the pars recta local reabsorption rate was 1.0±0.3 nl/min·mm. In the proximal convolutionC increased with increasing intratubular pressure: ΔC/Δitp=(2.7±1.2)·10⁻² nl/min·mm·Torr. Filtration was in disequilibrium in these animals under all conditions examined, hydraulic filtration conductance wasK=1.2±0.4 nl/min·Torr. Modified methods have been used for intratubular pressure and for flow rate measurements in order to reduce experimental procedure. It is shown, that fractional reabsorption, calculated on the basis of pressure measurements, is a good approximation to results usually obtained by inulin measurements.     

The cause of a depressed glomerular filtration rate after an ischaemic insult: whole kidney and superficial nephron study in the dog

Twenty-four hours after 90 min clamping of the left renal artery in dogs, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was decreased in the whole kidney (0.34 ml.min^–1g KW^–1 [KW=Kidney weight] vs 0.64 in contralateral unclamped kidney) just as in the single nephron (SNGFR, 19.7 vs 51.8 nl.min^–1). Renal blood flow (RBF) did not change; single nephron glomerular blood flow (SNGBF) was decreased by 9% only. After injection of Lissamine green into the renal artery, brief diffuse tinting of the whole kidney surface was observed. Thereafter, patchy coloration — corresponding to passage of the dye through patent tubuli — took place in approximately one-quarter to one-third of the kidney surface. Micropuncture measurements were carried out in these areas.The values of hydraulic pressure in peritubular capillaries and proximal convolutions were not different from those found in controls; directly measured glomerular capillary pressure was decreased (48.7 vs 59.5 mmHg). The ultrafiltration coefficient(K _f) was significantly depressed (2.7 vs 3.8 mmHg.nl^–1.min). Total kidney and arteriolar resistances remained unchanged but afferent resistance (R _A) was elevated (11%) and efferent resistance (R _E) was lowered (23%) compared with those of controls. Ninetyseven percent of proximally microinjected ³H-inulin was recovered from the control kidney but only 85 % from the kidney rendered ischaemic. In conclusion, the typical findings at 24 h after 90 min ischaemia are low GFR and SNGFR with normal RBF and almost normal superficial SNGBF values. This phenomenon is mainly due to a decrease in K _f and a decrease in R _E with a simultaneous increase in R _A; back-leak through damaged tubuli seems to play only a minor role.     

Effects of alcohol exposure during development on social behavior in rats

In addition to the cognitive deficits associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), clinical and animal studies indicate that alcohol exposure might also have detrimental effects on social behavior. In a rat model of FAS, experimental rats were given alcohol from gestational day (GD) 1 to 22 and from postnatal day (PD) 2 to 10, a period roughly equivalent to all three trimesters in humans. Control groups consisted of rats exposed to the administration procedures but not to alcohol and nontreated rats. At 30 days of age, rats were tested for social behavior in an alley maze that contained its cagemate in the goal box. After varying periods of isolation, the animals' latencies to reach the goal box and their social behaviors once inside the goal box were recorded. Alcohol-exposed animals ran faster than control rats to the occupied goal box regardless of the amount of isolation. The alcohol-exposed animals also exhibited aberrant social interactions with their cagemate once inside the goal box compared to one or both of the control groups. Specifically, the alcohol-exposed animals showed greater amounts of anogenital sniffing, chasing, hopping and darting, and retrieving and lesser amounts of pinning and biting compared to one or both of the control groups. The alcohol-induced change in anogenital sniffing varied over increasing amounts of isolation compared to both control groups, but the alterations in the other behaviors did not. It is argued that the altered social behavior of alcohol-exposed animals is not the result of changes in the animals' motivational state or social learning and may be the result of an increased responsiveness to social stimuli.     

Tubuloglomerular feedback and autoregulation of glomerular filtration rate in Wistar-Kyoto spontaneously hypertensive rats

Experiments were done in Wistar-Kyoto spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to examine the efficiency of autoregulatory adjustments of kidney and nephron filtration rate (GFR) to acute changes in blood pressure (BP) over a broad blood pressure range. When BP of the SHR was reduced from 158±7 to 118 ±3 mm Hg by aortic clamping, kidney-GFR remained unchanged from 1.19±0.11 to 1.17±013 ml·min^–1·g^–1 kidney weight (KW), respectively. Single nephron GFR (SNGFR) measured at early distal tubule sites was similarly unchanged with the same BP change, 27.9±1.5 vs. 24.9±2.1 nl·min^–1·g^–1 KW (P>0.10). Proximal and distal estimates of SNGFR were significantly different from each other at high BP (7 nl·min^–1·g^–1,P<0.025), but were not different at low BP (2.0 nl·ml^–1·g^–1,P>0.10). Studies assessing tubuloglomerular feedback activity were done with orthograde perfusion of the loop of Henle using recollections of early proximal flow rate (EPFR) as an index of change of glomerular filtration rate. A change in perfusion rate from 0 to 45 nl·min^–1 induced a reduction in early proximal flow rate of 40.5 ±4.5%. Juxtaglomerular renin activity of superficial nephrons was 36.2±4.3 in the SHR, a value insignificantly different from 23.7±4.4 ng Angiotensin II amide·0.1 ml^–1·h^–1. 5 glomeruli^–1 in normal controls (P>0.05). The SHR appears to behave as a normal animal with respect to tubologlomerular feedback and autoregulatory renal vascular adjustments. Like normal rat models, the SHR demonstrated dependence on maintenance of distal filtrate delivery to achieve single nephron GFR autoregulation.Financial support for these studies and for Dr. Ploth were made available by funds from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft