Objective: To observe the changes of vasoactive substances in rabbits administered with mannitol at different dosages and to investigate the mechanism of acute renal failure (ARF) induced by massive mannitol administration.
Methods: Eighteen healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: a minor mannitol group (n=6, mannitol 8 g/kg within 2 hours), a control group (n=6, saline of the same volume), and a massive mannitol group with free water taking (n=6, mannitol 40~60 g/kg within 3 days). The changes of renin, angiotensin-I (ang-I), angiotensin-II (ang-II), endothelin (ET), and atrial natriuretic factor(ANF) in the serum were observed.
Results: No significant changes in the renin, ang-I, ang-II, ET, and ANF in the serum were found between the minor mannitol group and the saline control group (P> 0.05). In the massive mannitol group with free water taking, renin, ang-I, and ang-II in the serum increased significantly compared with the other 2 groups; ET in the serum decreased significantly compared with the saline control group (P< 0.05); no significant changes in the ANF in the serum were found compared with the other 2 groups(P> 0.05).
Conclusion: ARF induced by massive mannitol administration is associated with a significant change of vasoactive substances.