Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with high incidence of
cardiovascular complications. To clarify pathogenesis of CRF
numerous animal models have been developed. The aim of our
work was to describe methodology of subtotal surgical renal
ablation in rat and to characterize some biochemical and
cardiovascular parameters of this animal model. Male rats
underwent 5/6 surgical nephrectomy or sham operations in two
steps. The following parameters were measured on day 10 and in
week 10 after the surgery: plasma concentrations of creatinine
and urea, blood pressure, resting heart rate, chronotropic
response to atropine and metipranol, heart ventricles weight,
contraction parameters and action potential duration in the left
ventricle. Increased serum concentrations of creatinine and urea,
decreased creatinine clearance, polyuria and alteration of the
remnant kidney tissue were found in CRF rats. Changes in
cardiovascular parameters identified after subtotal nephrectomy
resembled alterations of cardiovascular system in uremic patients
and included hypertension, elevated resting heart rate,
diminished parasympathetic cardiac tone, hypertrophy of the left
ventricle associated with weakened force of contraction,
prolonged contraction and relaxation and shortening of action
potential duration. These data suggest that the present model
can be a useful tool in the study of CRF and its cardiovascular
complications.
Lipoprotein (a) in Chronic Renal Failure Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: Does It Have an Independent Role in the Development of Further Cardiovascular Complications?
