Renal cortical blood flow distribution measured by hydrogen clearance during dopamine and acetylcholine infusion. Effect of electrode thickness and position in cortex

Blood flow distribution in the renal cortex was investigated in control and during i.a. infusion of dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (Ach) in dogs. Local blood flow in outer cortex (OCF) and in inner cortex (ICF) was measured by platinum electrodes detecting hydrogen washout rate in tissue. Mean cortical blood flow measured by hydrogen washout rate in the renal vein (CFV) was compared with renal arterial blood flow (RAF) measured by electromagnetic flowmeter. With electrodes of 0.05–0.2 mm diameter control blood flow rates in outer and inner cortex were 4.57± (S.D.) 1.73 ml/min g and 4.35±0.57 ml/min g, which is higher than found using 0.2–0.5 mm electrodes in this and previous studies. OCF and ICF increased proportionally during intraarterial infusion of DA or Ach. The increase in local blood flow per unit volume was about 20% less than the increase in RAF, most likely due to an increase in renal volume and a reduced vasodilatory response in the surrounding of some electrodes. CFV rose almost to the same degree as RAF, showing a diffusion equilibrium for hydrogen gas even at maximal flow rate. During vasoconstriction induced by high doses of DA, OCF and ICF fell proportionately. Thus, equal vascular responses in outer and inner cortex were observed during both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor infusion. This indicates that changes in sodium excretion with renal blood flow may not be associated with a redistribution of cortical peritubular blood flow.