Chronic hydronephrosis: Renographic drainage patterns and renal morphology in an animal model

Objective: To develop an animal model of chronic progressive hydronephrosis; to establish patterns of diuretic renography during development of the condition; and to relate renographic abnormality to morphological change in the renal parenchyma. Materials and methods: The cellophane sclerosis technique was used to produce a hydronephrosis in the left kidney of six rabbits. Post-operatively MAG3 diuretic renography was performed at weekly intervals. When a steady renographic trend was noted the rabbits were killed and the kidneys examined histologically. Results: Four rabbits had persistent type II renographic curves on the left for 12 weeks. The measured split renal function fell steadily to