Three groups (N.16 each) of male Wistar rats were maintained separately on high protein (47%) (HPD), normal protein (20%) (NPD) and low protein (5%) (LPD) diets for 2 weeks. The BUN, Scr, albuminuria and the ratio of right kidney weight/body weight in rats fed with HPD increased significantly as compared with the other 2 groups (P<0.01). A LPD reduced albuminuria markedly both in 5/6 nephrectomized and normal rats (P<0.01).
Two groups of Wistar rats (N. 16 each) were fed separately with HPD and LPD for 2 weeks prior to 5/6 nephrectomy. After operation half of the rats (N=8) in each group were kept on original diet, while the diets of the other halves were shifted either to LPD or HPD respectively for the following 2 weeks. The results showed that all the rats fed with HPD preoperatively and postoperatively died within 4 days following 5/6 renal ablation. Rats fed with LPD preoperatively and HPD postoperatively died within 13 days. Whlie rats fed with LPD both pre- and post-operatively or rats fed with HPD preoperatively and LPD postoperatively all survived It is apparent that low protein feeding has a protective effect on renal function in uremic rats.
