1. A new rat model has been developed allowing body fluid status to be accurately controlled and maintained throughout experimentation by computer-driven, servo-controlled replacement of spontaneous urinary fluid losses. 2. Experiments in vitro were performed to test the accuracy of the servo system, and experiments in vivo were carried out to re-assess basic renal function in servo-controlled vasopressin-replete Long Evans and vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats. The model was further evaluated in water-diuretic Wistar rats with or without administration of a vasopressin V 2 -receptor agonist, 1-desamino-8- d -arginine vasopressin. 3. The data gained from the present study indicate the suitability of the servo-controlled replacement system for conscious renal function studies in three different rat strains. Haemodynamic and renal function variables measured were demonstrated to be stable throughout a 5 h experimental procedure and reproducible between repeated experimental occasions over a 14 day post-operative period. 4. Using the servo-control technique, the expected action of 1-desamino-8- d -arginine vasopressin on renal water handling was demonstrated, but the natriuretic effect reported by some workers was not evident. 5. Since the servo-controlled fluid replacement technique maintains many of the inherent differences between vasopressin-replete Long Evans and vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats and eliminates the changes in body fluid volume during transition from a diuretic to an antidiuretic state, the model confers an advantage over previously employed constant infusion protocols.

1. The effects of the infusion of a low dose (2 pmol min −1 kg −1 for 3 h) of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) were studied in seven healthy volunteers undergoing a water diuresis. Lithium clearance was used to monitor proximal tubular function. 2. hANP increased urine flow rate, sodium, calcium and magnesium excretion without significant changes in potassium and phosphate excretion, heart rate or blood pressure. 3. hANP caused a small change in fractional lithium clearance, and larger changes in distal nephron handling of sodium and water. 4. Plasma renin activity tended to decrease during the infusion of hANP, while plasma aldosterone concentration decreased during and increased after stopping the infusion of hANP. 5. The data suggest that hANP inhibits the reabsorption of sodium and water by an action on distal segments of the nephron and perhaps the proximal tubule. Inhibition of renin and aldosterone secretion may contribute to the natriuresis.

1. The effect of meals with a high and low protein content and of the fasting state on renal function and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide was studied in water-loaded normal volunteers. 2. Creatinine clearance increased after the high protein meal, but did not change after the low protein meal or while fasting. Observations of similar increases in urine sodium and potassium excretion and a transient decrease in urine flow after both meals suggest that the protein content of the meal is not an important contributory factor in these responses to feeding. 3. Absolute delivery of sodium and water out of the proximal tubules (assessed by the lithium clearance method) was higher after both meals than while fasting; fractional lithium clearance was higher after the low protein meal than the high protein meal and while fasting. Absolute reabsorption from proximal tubules was increased after only the high protein meal. 4. A transient decrease in the fraction of water delivered to distal nephron segments that appeared in the urine (fractional distal water excretion) was observed after both meals. Fractional distal sodium excretion and absolute distal sodium and water reabsorption increased after both meals. 5. Since plasma atrial natriuretic peptide either decreased (high protein meal) or remained unchanged (low protein meal and fasting), it is unlikely that this hormone is involved in the hyperfiltration after the high protein meal and the natriuresis after both high and low protein meals.

1. The effects of amiloride and frusemide on lithium clearance were studied during changes in dietary sodium chloride intake and during infusion of 0.9% NaCl in normal human volunteers. 2. Lithium and fractional lithium clearances were less on the low than on the high salt diet. Values for the medium salt diet were intermediate. Acute extracellular fluid volume expansion with 0.9% NaCl infusion and extracellular fluid volume contraction 3–4 h after intravenous frusemide caused lithium and fractional lithium clearances to increase and decrease respectively. 3. Amiloride caused small changes in lithium and fractional lithium clearances on a low salt diet, but was without effect when salt intake was medium or high. 4. Increases in lithium clearance occurred immediately after frusemide irrespective of dietary salt intake and in subjects infused with 0.9% NaCl. Only in salt-depleted subjects did frusemide cause a substantial increase in fractional lithium clearance. Changes induced under other circumstances were small. 5. It is concluded that the lithium clearance method for assessment of proximal tubule salt and water re-absorption can be used with some degree of confidence in certain circumstances (medium and high salt intake as well as in acute volume expansion) but may not be reliable when dietary salt intake is low.

1. The effect of changes of dietary sodium chloride intake and posture on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration and renal function was studied in 11 normal human volunteers. 2. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration was higher in the upright posture on a high than it was on a medium or low salt diet. On the medium and high but not on the low salt diet the concentration increased significantly on adoption of the supine posture. 3. Creatinine, sodium, lithium and fractional lithium clearances, fractional distal sodium excretion and total distal water and sodium reabsorption, which were estimated by the lithium clearance technique, were significantly higher on the high than on the low salt diet. The medium salt intake gave intermediate values. 4. Heart rate while upright was significantly higher on the low than on either the medium or the high salt diets. Systolic blood pressure was unaffected by salt intake. Diastolic blood pressure in the supine position was significantly higher on the low than on the medium or high salt diets. 5. Both plasma noradrenaline concentrations and plasma renin activity were significantly higher on the low than on the high salt diet. Values on the medium salt intake were intermediate. Plasma concentrations of both hormones were higher in the upright than in the supine posture on all three salt intakes. 6. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that atrial natriuretic peptide contributes to the cardiovascular and renal adjustments to changes in dietary sodium chloride, and the possible role of the peptide is discussed.

1. The effect of changes of posture on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations and renal function was studied in normal human volunteers. 2. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations increased in the supine posture, reached a maximum value after 30–60 min, remained elevated for 4 h and decreased to baseline values on return to the upright posture. Inflation of antishock trousers, which apply positive pressure to the legs and lower abdomen, attenuated the fall in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in the upright position. 3. In the supine posture there were increases in urine flow rate, sodium, lithium, fractional sodium and fractional lithium clearances. Fractional distal water and sodium excretion, and total distal water and sodium reabsorption, which were estimated by the lithium clearance technique, also increased. 4. Heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased in the supine and increased on return to the upright posture. Inflation of antishock trousers prevented the increase in heart rate in the upright posture. 5. The contribution of haemodynamic factors to the increase in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations in the supine position and the relationship between this increase and the associated changes in renal function are discussed. However, the contribution of atrial natriuretic peptide to these changes is uncertain.

Although our understanding of many renal mechanisms has been advancing rapidly over the past few years, there is still a dearth of information about changes that occur in renal function during pregnancy — surely one of the greatest physiological disturbances possible. It is difficult in many instances to find a description of the changes that occur quite apart from the underlying alterations in mechanisms that are responsible for them. Part of the difficulty has arisen because of the ethical and methodological problems that arise when women are used as ‘experimental animals’ until recently there has not been a suitably documented animal model, though whether this was because of technical difficulties or lack of interest on the part of investigators is not known. Recently, however, it has become apparent that many changes in renal function in the rat are similar to those occurring in women and some aspects of renal function in the rat have been investigated in detail. Since not all aspects of renal function can be covered in this review we shall concentrate on three of the more important areas, namely haemodynamics, sodium and water handling and glucose excretion, and discuss how these are changed during pregnancy; comments on the possible mechanisms involved in these changes are presented where appropriate.