The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate

Mads Damkjær; T. Wang; E. Brøndum; K H Østergaard; U Baandrup; A Hørlyck; J.M. Hasenkam; M Smerup; J. Funder; N Marcussen; Carl Christian Danielsen; Mads Frost Bertelsen; Carsten Grøndahl; M Pedersen; P. Agger; G Candy; Christian Aalkjær; P. Bie

doi:10.1111/apha.12531

The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate

Mads Damkjær, T. Wang, E. Brøndum, K H Østergaard, U Baandrup, A Hørlyck, J.M. Hasenkam, M Smerup, J. Funder, N Marcussen, Carl Christian Danielsen, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Carsten Grøndahl, M Pedersen, P. Agger, G Candy, Christian Aalkjær, P. Bie

Physiology of circulation, kidney and lung

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The tallest animal on earth, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is endowed with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) twice that of other mammals. The kidneys reside at heart level and show no sign of hypertension-related damage. We hypothesized that a species-specific evolutionary adaption in the giraffe kidney allows normal for size renal haemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) despite a MAP double that of other mammals.

METHODS: Fourteen anaesthetized giraffes were instrumented with vascular and bladder catheters to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) was assessed by inserting a needle into the medullary parenchyma. Doppler ultrasound measurements provided renal artery resistive index (RI). Hormone concentrations as well as biomechanical, structural and histological characteristics of vascular and renal tissues were determined.

RESULTS: GFR averaged 342 ± 99 mL min(-1) and ERPF 1252 ± 305 mL min(-1) . RIHP varied between 45 and 140 mmHg. Renal pelvic pressure was 39 ± 2 mmHg and renal venous pressure 32 ± 4 mmHg. A valve-like structure at the junction of the renal and vena cava generated a pressure drop of 12 ± 2 mmHg. RI was 0.27. The renal capsule was durable with a calculated burst pressure of 600 mmHg. Plasma renin and AngII were 2.6 ± 0.5 mIU L(-1) and 9.1 ± 1.5 pg mL(-1) respectively.

CONCLUSION: In giraffes, GFR, ERPF and RI appear much lower than expected based on body mass. A strong renal capsule supports a RIHP, which is >10-fold that of other mammals effectively reducing the net filtration pressure and protecting against the high MAP.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Physiologica (Print)
Volume	214
Issue number	4
Pages (from-to)	497-510
Number of pages	14
ISSN	1748-1708
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12531
Publication status	Published - 2015

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10.1111/apha.12531

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Damkjær, M., Wang, T., Brøndum, E., Østergaard, K. H., Baandrup, U., Hørlyck, A., Hasenkam, J. M., Smerup, M., Funder, J., Marcussen, N., Danielsen, C. C., Bertelsen, M. F., Grøndahl, C., Pedersen, M., Agger, P., Candy, G., Aalkjær, C., & Bie, P. (2015). The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate. Acta Physiologica (Print), 214(4), 497-510. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12531

Damkjær, M, Wang, T, Brøndum, E, Østergaard, KH, Baandrup, U, Hørlyck, A, Hasenkam, JM, Smerup, M, Funder, J, Marcussen, N, Danielsen, CC, Bertelsen, MF, Grøndahl, C, Pedersen, M, Agger, P, Candy, G, Aalkjær, C & Bie, P 2015, 'The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate', Acta Physiologica (Print), vol. 214, no. 4, pp. 497-510. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12531

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title = "The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The tallest animal on earth, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is endowed with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) twice that of other mammals. The kidneys reside at heart level and show no sign of hypertension-related damage. We hypothesized that a species-specific evolutionary adaption in the giraffe kidney allows normal for size renal haemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) despite a MAP double that of other mammals.METHODS: Fourteen anaesthetized giraffes were instrumented with vascular and bladder catheters to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) was assessed by inserting a needle into the medullary parenchyma. Doppler ultrasound measurements provided renal artery resistive index (RI). Hormone concentrations as well as biomechanical, structural and histological characteristics of vascular and renal tissues were determined.RESULTS: GFR averaged 342 ± 99 mL min(-1) and ERPF 1252 ± 305 mL min(-1) . RIHP varied between 45 and 140 mmHg. Renal pelvic pressure was 39 ± 2 mmHg and renal venous pressure 32 ± 4 mmHg. A valve-like structure at the junction of the renal and vena cava generated a pressure drop of 12 ± 2 mmHg. RI was 0.27. The renal capsule was durable with a calculated burst pressure of 600 mmHg. Plasma renin and AngII were 2.6 ± 0.5 mIU L(-1) and 9.1 ± 1.5 pg mL(-1) respectively.CONCLUSION: In giraffes, GFR, ERPF and RI appear much lower than expected based on body mass. A strong renal capsule supports a RIHP, which is >10-fold that of other mammals effectively reducing the net filtration pressure and protecting against the high MAP.",

author = "Mads Damkj{\ae}r and T. Wang and E. Br{\o}ndum and {\O}stergaard, {K H} and U Baandrup and A H{\o}rlyck and J.M. Hasenkam and M Smerup and J. Funder and N Marcussen and Danielsen, {Carl Christian} and Bertelsen, {Mads Frost} and Carsten Gr{\o}ndahl and M Pedersen and P. Agger and G Candy and Christian Aalkj{\ae}r and P. Bie",

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year = "2015",

doi = "10.1111/apha.12531",

language = "English",

volume = "214",

pages = "497--510",

journal = "Acta Physiologica (Print)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate

AU - Damkjær, Mads

AU - Wang, T.

AU - Brøndum, E.

AU - Østergaard, K H

AU - Baandrup, U

AU - Hørlyck, A

AU - Hasenkam, J.M.

AU - Smerup, M

AU - Funder, J.

AU - Marcussen, N

AU - Danielsen, Carl Christian

AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost

AU - Grøndahl, Carsten

AU - Pedersen, M

AU - Agger, P.

AU - Candy, G

AU - Aalkjær, Christian

AU - Bie, P.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - BACKGROUND: The tallest animal on earth, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is endowed with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) twice that of other mammals. The kidneys reside at heart level and show no sign of hypertension-related damage. We hypothesized that a species-specific evolutionary adaption in the giraffe kidney allows normal for size renal haemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) despite a MAP double that of other mammals.METHODS: Fourteen anaesthetized giraffes were instrumented with vascular and bladder catheters to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) was assessed by inserting a needle into the medullary parenchyma. Doppler ultrasound measurements provided renal artery resistive index (RI). Hormone concentrations as well as biomechanical, structural and histological characteristics of vascular and renal tissues were determined.RESULTS: GFR averaged 342 ± 99 mL min(-1) and ERPF 1252 ± 305 mL min(-1) . RIHP varied between 45 and 140 mmHg. Renal pelvic pressure was 39 ± 2 mmHg and renal venous pressure 32 ± 4 mmHg. A valve-like structure at the junction of the renal and vena cava generated a pressure drop of 12 ± 2 mmHg. RI was 0.27. The renal capsule was durable with a calculated burst pressure of 600 mmHg. Plasma renin and AngII were 2.6 ± 0.5 mIU L(-1) and 9.1 ± 1.5 pg mL(-1) respectively.CONCLUSION: In giraffes, GFR, ERPF and RI appear much lower than expected based on body mass. A strong renal capsule supports a RIHP, which is >10-fold that of other mammals effectively reducing the net filtration pressure and protecting against the high MAP.

AB - BACKGROUND: The tallest animal on earth, the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is endowed with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) twice that of other mammals. The kidneys reside at heart level and show no sign of hypertension-related damage. We hypothesized that a species-specific evolutionary adaption in the giraffe kidney allows normal for size renal haemodynamics and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) despite a MAP double that of other mammals.METHODS: Fourteen anaesthetized giraffes were instrumented with vascular and bladder catheters to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) was assessed by inserting a needle into the medullary parenchyma. Doppler ultrasound measurements provided renal artery resistive index (RI). Hormone concentrations as well as biomechanical, structural and histological characteristics of vascular and renal tissues were determined.RESULTS: GFR averaged 342 ± 99 mL min(-1) and ERPF 1252 ± 305 mL min(-1) . RIHP varied between 45 and 140 mmHg. Renal pelvic pressure was 39 ± 2 mmHg and renal venous pressure 32 ± 4 mmHg. A valve-like structure at the junction of the renal and vena cava generated a pressure drop of 12 ± 2 mmHg. RI was 0.27. The renal capsule was durable with a calculated burst pressure of 600 mmHg. Plasma renin and AngII were 2.6 ± 0.5 mIU L(-1) and 9.1 ± 1.5 pg mL(-1) respectively.CONCLUSION: In giraffes, GFR, ERPF and RI appear much lower than expected based on body mass. A strong renal capsule supports a RIHP, which is >10-fold that of other mammals effectively reducing the net filtration pressure and protecting against the high MAP.

U2 - 10.1111/apha.12531

DO - 10.1111/apha.12531

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26010805

SN - 1748-1708

VL - 214

SP - 497

EP - 510

JO - Acta Physiologica (Print)

JF - Acta Physiologica (Print)

IS - 4

ER -

The giraffe kidney tolerates high arterial blood pressure by high renal interstitial pressure and low glomerular filtration rate

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