EFFECTS OF MERCURIAL DIURETICS ON RENAL VOLUME AND INTRARENAL BLOOD FLOW

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor

Mercurial diuretics increased the rate of penetration of a 10 per cent trichloracetic acid solution through rat and dog kidney cortex, increased renal weight, and produced a marked cortical ischemia. A medullary hyperemia was observed in rat kidneys but was not evident in kidneys of dogs treated with inercurials. The increase in penetration was not duplicated when total renal blood flow was depressed or non-mercurial compounds were used to initiate diuresis or antidiuresis. It is likely that increased penetration is the result of a decreased tissue density produced by an increase in renal volume.

Changes in renal blood flow did not produce the cortical ischemia observed since it was present after small doses of mercury were administered, was not prevented by cysteine, and occurred in the absence of detectable changes in renal blood flow or blood pressure.

All of the above effects were correctable with BAL but were not altered by large doses of cysteine.