[Quantitative morphological investigation of the effect of ether anaesthesia on the kidney of the rat (author's transl)]

In the proximal and distal convoluted segments and the collecting tubule of the kidneys of 24 male albino rats, type Wistar TNO W 70 SPF, the nuclear volume was measured after the animals had been anaesthetized with ether for 15, 40 and 80 min. In contrast to nontreated controls there was a decrease in average nuclear size of 12.6% and 11.1% after 15 and 40 min in the proximal convoluted segment. Changes in nuclear size could not be detected in the distal convoluted segment and in the collecting tubules. While the decrease in the nuclear volume in the proximal convolution is considered to be a direct effect of ether, the enhanced reabsorption of sodium mentioned in other studies could be explained by an alpha-receptor mediated transport effect of the narcotic agent.