ABSTRACT
Amino acid infusion induces a rise in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in normal subjects, but the mechanism is as yet unknown. Glomerulopressin infused into the renal arteries of rats and dogs increases GFR. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether amino acid infusion raised glomerulopressin production and GFR. Accordingly, before renal arteriovenography, in 11 potential kidney donors, the caval catheter was introduced into the right hepatic vein and 60-ml blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each experiment; six patients received amino acid infusion and five a saline infusion. Glomerulopressin in ultrafiltrates from hepatic vein plasma was measured by toad bioassay and GFR determined with diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-Tc99. The amino acid-infused group showed significant glomerulopressin activity in ultrafiltrates, as well as a significant GFR increase, whereas in the control group no glomerulopressin activity was observed, and there was no change in GFR. These findings suggest that intravenous amino acid infusion stimulates glomerulopressin production, which may in turn induce an increase in GFR.