Experimental Renal Insufficiency Produced by Partial Nephrectomy

Numerous workers 1 have reported that the administration of yeast extracts to white rats is effective in preventing renal hypertrophy caused by excessive ingestion of protein. There are no data showing the possible relation between the size and the function of the kidneys under such conditions. This investigation was undertaken to study the effect of feeding diets containing varying concentrations of dried yeast on renal hypertrophy, renal function and blood pressure in intact and in partially nephrectomized rats. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS The details of the procedures for the care of the animals and for determining the blood pressure and renal function have been presented in previous papers.²Eighty to 90 per cent of the total kidney tissue was removed by a two stage operation from the partially nephrectomized rats. Five experimental diets were used and were designated as Y 20, Y 30, Y 40, Y 60 and Y 80 according