Renal function in the separate kidneys of man. I. Hemodynamics and excretion of solute and water in normal subjects.

Observations have been made in 17 normotensive subjects selected from the wards of the Third (New York University) Medical Division of Bellevue Hospital. Included in this report are observations made on 4 additional subjects reported in a previous communication (2). The total group comprises 19 female and 2 male subjects between the ages of 20 and 68 years. All subjects were maintained on the regular hospital diet. Fluids were withheld for 15 hours and the test was performed in the morning on the fasting patients. After local anesthesia with 2 per cent metycaine, cystoscopy and ureteral catheterization were performed, employing Pederson multi-eyed ureteral catheters inserted to a distance of 12 to 16 cm. Large diameter catheters (no. 8 through no. 6 Fr.) were utilized to minimize leakage.1 A soft rubber catheter was placed in the bladder to detect leakage around the ureteral catheters. In none of the observations reported here did measurable leakage occur. If leakage does occur, analysis of bladder urine permits partition between the right and left kidneys if the concentrations of the test substances are