Abstract

Perfusion pressure in the renal vascular bed was determined in dogs after administration of various mercurial compounds. Diuretic mercurials and the nondiuretic mercurial, p-chloromercuribenzoate, produced a sustained increase in perfusion pressure which usually lasted for the duration of an experiment (up to 4 hours). An increase in urine flow accompanied the rise in perfusion pressure but urinary sodium concentration was depressed when the nondiuretic compound was employed and elevated when diuretic mercurials were used.

The increase in urine flow noted when perfusion pressure was raised by administration of a nondiuretic mercurial exceeded that produced when perfusion pressure was elevated artificially by increasing renal blood flow. This effect of the mercurial may be due to impairment of the renal concentrating mechanism.