Development of Renal Failure in Endotoxemic Rats: Can It Be Explained by Early Changes in Renal Energy Metabolism?

Endotoxin shock not only causes renal failure, endotoxemia also leads to metabolic impairment, resulting in energy shortage and loss of cellular integrity; therefore, we tested the hypothesis that early changes in renal metabolism contribute to the development of acute renal failure during endotoxin shock. Endotoxin (Escherichia coli127B8; 8 mg/kg from t = 0 to 60 min) was infused in three groups of 8 rats, in which renal biopsies were taken at t = 30,50 and 90 min, respectively; a fourth group (n – 8) served as control. In the biopsies, glucose, lactate, ATP, ADP, AMP and creatine phosphate concentrations were determined. Renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured from the clearances of 131I-hippurate and 125I-thalamate, respectively. We also assayed urine flow (V; catheter in the bladder), cardiac output (CO), blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and arterial lactate, glucose and creatinine concentrations. During the first 30 min of endotoxemia, we found no systemic hemodynamic or biochemical changes. From t = 30 to t = 90, CO and MAP decreased to 59 and 70%, respectively, while HR and serum levels rose to 110 and 800%, respectively (p