The response of the pig kidney to the combined effects of cisplatin and unilateral renal irradiation

Seven mature Large White female pigs, approximately 10 months of age received a single dose of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), c-DDP (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Prior to, and 4 weeks after c-DDP administration, individual kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were measured. Of the 5 pigs surviving the c-DDP treatment most exhibited a reduction in both GFR and ERPF; the mean reduction in GFR (36.2±18.9%) was more pronounced than that for ERPF (12.6±19.4%). The right kidneys of these 5 pigs, plus 5 pigs which did not receive c-DDP, were irradiated with a single dose of 11.9 Gy of 60Co γ-rays. Animals that received c-DDP prior to irradiation failed to exhibit the hyperaemic response 2 weeks after irradiation. Moreover, the degree of reduction in renal function was greater than that observed in the irradiated kidneys of pigs receiving radiation alone. Prior treatment with c-DDP did not prevent a compensatory hypertrophic response by the contralateral unirradiated kidney; indeed the GFR in the unirradiated kidney of c-DDP treated pigs increased at a greater rate than in those pigs which did not receive c-DDP. Thus prior treatment with c-DDP enhances the radiation-induced reduction in individual kidney GFR and ERPF. 21 refs.; 4 figs.; 1 table