Platinum electrode potentials and blood redox balance in the kidney during renal ischemia.

Potentials recorded with a platinum electrode inserted in the cortex and in the medulla of the right kidney "in situ" were compared with the log (Pyruvate)/(Lactate) in the arterial blood and in the blood of the right renal vein, during clamping of the entire pedicle or the renal vein alone. There is no correlation between potentials and log (P)/(L) when the renal blood flow is unimpeded. The medullary potentials correlate with the log (P)/(L) in the renal vein at the time of the removal of the clamp after clamping of the renal vein alone. There is a close correlation between the changes of tissue potentials and the changes of log (P)/(L) in the renal vein between the initial values and values at the time of the removal of the clamp. Thus, it seems possible to estimate by continuous electrical recordings the state and variations of the oxido-reduction balance of a tissue "in vivo".