Renal hemodynamics and natriuresis during water immersion in normal humans.

The renal vascular and functional responses to acute "central hypervolemia" by water immersion to the neck were determined in six normal subjects. During isotonic-isooncotic expansion by water immersion there was a significant increase in urine flow from 1.1 +/- 0.1 to 6.9 +/- 1.0 ml/min (p less than 0.05) and sodium excretion from 99.1 +/- 8.8 to 300 +/- 28 mu Eq/min (p less than 0.05). Glomerular filtration rate did not change while renal blood flow significantly increased during water immersion. Deep intrarenal venous pressure (IRVP) increased from 18.2 +/- 1.4 to 32 +/- 1.7 mmHg (p less than 0.05) while mean arterial pressure was unchanged. This marked natriuresis seen during water immersion was associated with reduced renal vascular resistance and increased deep intrarenal venous pressure demonstrating that continued natriuresis could relate to increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.