The response of the pig kidney to the combined effects of cisplatin and unilateral renal irradiation

Seven mature Large White female pigs, approximately 10 months of age received a single dose of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), c-DDP (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Prior to, and 4 weeks after c-DDP administration, individual kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were measured by [99mTc]DTPA and [131I]hippuran renography. Of the 5 pigs surviving the c-DDP treatment most exhibited a reduction in both GFR and ERPF; the mean reduction in GFR (36.2 +/- 18.9%) was more pronounced than that for ERPF (12.6 +/- 19.4%). However, the difference in the severity of the impairment in these two parameters was not significant (p greater than 0.55). Haematocrit, haemoglobin and red blood cell counts were markedly reduced 14 days after c-DDP infusion, and despite some recovery evident 21 days after treatment, all three haematological parameters were still reduced 28 days after c-DDP administration. The right kidneys of these 5 animals, plus 5 pigs which did not receive c-DDP, were irradiated with a single dose of 11.9 Gy of 60Co gamma-rays. Individual kidney GFR and ERPF was routinely measured up to 24 weeks after irradiation. Pigs in which only the right kidney was irradiated showed a marked increase in both GFR and ERPF values 2 weeks after irradiation. This was followed by a decline in function with a reduction of 50% in terms of ERPF 16 weeks after irradiation. Values then showed some evidence of a recovery in function. There was a concomitant compensatory response by the contralateral unirradiated kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)