Role of the efferent arteriole in glomerular hemodynamics of superficial nephrons

Abstract

Hemodynamic pressure in glomerular capillaries (GCP) and in first order peritubular capillaries (EAP) in superficial nephrons of mutant Wistar rats with surface glomeruli was measured by micropuncture with a servo nulling device in the following conditions: control; norepinephrine infusion (NE); epinephrine infusion (E); dopamine infusion (D); hemorrhagic hypotension (HH); HH + NE; HH + E; HH + D; acute hypertension secondary to bilateral cervical vagotomy and occlusion of both common carotid arteries. BP was also recorded. Both GCP/BP and EAP/GCP ratios averaged 0.40 in control conditions, but only the EAP/GCP ratio remained constant in all conditions under study, indicating that approximately 60% of the hydrostatic pressure in glomerular capillaries is constantly dissipated by the efferent arteriole. When all values of EAP were plotted against the respective values of GCP, a linear relationship was detected (r = 0.843). These results indicate that changes of pressure in the first order peritubular capillaries of superficial nephrons are merely secondary to changes in glomerular capillary pressure.