AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 241, Issue 5 398-R411, Copyright © 1981 by American Physiological Society
Pyeloureteral dynamics in the intact and chronically obstructed multicalyceal kidney
C. E. Constantinou and J. C. Djurhuus
The transport of urine in the upper urinary tract of the multicalyceal
kidney was studied in healthy and chronically obstructed pigs in terms of
renal pelvic pressure, rate of and coordination of ureteral contractions,
and bolus volume. The variations of these parameters to diuresis was
examined by incremental elevation of urine output effected by intravenous
infusion of mannitol. In 16 healthy animals the mean variation in urine
flow was 0.01-3.20 ml/min, the change in peristaltic rate ranged from 0.763
to 5.125 min-1, and bolus volume from 0.003 to 2.083 ml.. In 14 chronically
obstructed kidneys, for a mean variation in urine flow of 0.006-5.4 ml/min,
peristaltic rate ranged from 0.237 to 6.095 min-1 and bolus volume from
0.00 to 1.80 ml. Discoordinated contractions, bursts of peristalsis, and
incompletely transmitted pelvic contractions were characteristic of a
chronically obstructed system. These observations are compared with the
unobstructed unicalyceal and multicalyceal kidney. The disrupting impact of
chronic ureteral obstruction on the hierarchical organization of the
pyeloureteral pacemaker system is discussed.
