CALCITONIN-GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE ATTENUATES EXPERIMENTAL ISCHEMIC RENAL-FAILURE IN A RAT MODEL OF REVERSIBLE RENAL ISCHEMIC INSULT

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been shown to decrease vasc ular resistance and increase renal bloodflow. To study the effects of CGRP in acute renal failure (ARF) of moderate degree, we used a rat mo del of bilateral temporary renal artery occlusion (RAG) inducing ARF w ith spontaneous recovery within 1 week, resembling a clinical situatio n. Three groups were studied: CGRP 10 (CGRP10) and 25 (CGRP25) pmol.kg (-1) min(-1) and vehicle alone (control), respectively, infused from 1 0 min before until 2 h after declamping. Serum urea levels reached a p eak after 24 h at 13.0 +/- 1.3, 8.1 +/- 1.1, and 8.5 +/- 1.0 mmol.L(-1 ) in the control, CGRP10, and CGRP25 group, respectively. They were si gnificantly lower postischemia in the two CGRP-treated groups than in the control group. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased to 90%, 80%, and 60% of baseline MAP in the control, CGRP10, and CGRP25 group, res pectively. Histologically there was no significant difference between the three groups. Our data indicate that CGRP preserves renal function in experimental ARF despite reductions in MAP. We conclude that furth er investigations of the renal effects of CGRP are needed in order to clarify whether CGRP might be used clinically to maintain or improve r enal function in ARF.