Effect of hyperventilation on glomerular filtration and renal plasma flow

Abstract

Dogs were anesthetized with 30 mg/kg of sodium pentobarbital. Creatinine clearance was used as a measure of glomerular filtration rate and the clearance of p-aminohippuric acid at low plasma concentrations was used as a measure of renal plasma flow. After two control periods, the dogs were progressively hyperventilated. The respiratory minute volume was increased from about 4 l/min. at the start of the hyperventilation to about 8 l/min. at the end of 3 hours of overventilation. The anaerobically measured arterial pH rose from a control value of 7.33 to 7.63 at the conclusion of the experiment. No change occurred in the glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, filtration fraction, hematocrit, rectal temperature, heart rate or total solids in the plasma. Passive hyperventilation leading to pronounced alkalosis of short duration does not appear to alter renal hemodynamics sufficiently to cause any change in the filtration rate or effective renal plasma flow.