Urea-induced proteinuria: a new experimental model

Abstract

In search of a rapid and reliable method of inducing proteinuria in vivo, we tested the action of concentrated urea in acute experiments in the dog. The proposed model of experimental glomerular lesion has certain potential advantages in pathophysiological and clinical investigation. It offers a unique possibility to study proteinuria in the dog, the species in which previous attempts to produce experimental nephrotic syndrome using the aminonucleoside of puromycin were not successful. The lesion is obtained rapidly and is easily reproducible. Since it is unilateral, the contralateral kidney, when subjected to severe ischemia, can be employed as a useful control. Further functional and morphologic studies would be required to explore more thoroughly various aspects of urea-induced proteinuria.