The occurrence of post-exercise proteinuria was investigated in intact and splenectomized dogs after treadmill running and swimming and compared to control experiments. Albumin and lysozyme were measured by radial diffusion. Urinary protein was analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Swimming in the splenectomized dogs increased the albumin excretion in the first 30 min after exercise from 0.03 to 0.22 mg X min-1 and the lysozyme excretion in the same period from 0.11 to 0.75 micrograms X min-1. Swimming in intact dogs caused smaller increase in the lysozyme and albumin excretions during the exercise period itself as well as in the albumin excretion in the first 30 min after exercise. Running had no effect on urinary albumin or lysozyme but increased the low molecular weight protein fraction in the splenectomized dogs. Plasma lactate concentrations were higher during swimming in the splenectomized dogs than in the intact dogs. Possible mechanisms of post-exercise proteinuria are discussed.

The influence of splenectomy in the dog on plasma catecholamine levels and plasma renin activity during treadmill running and swimming was investigated. Plasma catecholamines were measured by a radioenzymatic assay and plasma renin activity by a radioimmunoassay. Exercise consistently increased plasma catecholamine levels before and after splenectomy (range of increase:3--38 pmol X ml-1). Swimming, however, was a stronger stimulus than running. No change in the ratio between noradrenaline and adrenaline was found. In intact dogs exercise results in a marked increase in hematocrit due to splenic contraction (range of increase 3--8 volume %), while renal blood flow and plasma renin activity remain virtually constant. In splenectomized dogs, exercise has been reported to induce a decrease in renal blood flow. In contrast to this known effect on renal blood flow, splenectomy did not affect plasma renin activity in treadmill running dogs. In swimming dogs, however, plasma renin activity was increased after splenectomy (range of increase 3.3--6.9 ng X Ang I X ml-1 X h-1). Possibly, a threshold in sympathetic tone is required to increase renin release in the dog.

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured using a continuous inulin infusion in control, treadmill running, and swimming experiments in intact and splenectomized dogs. There was a 20% increase in the GFR after swimming in the splenectomized dogs as compared to the corresponding value in the control trials (P less than 0.01). The GFR was not changed during or after running or during swimming. Possible mechanisms maintaining the GFR in intact and splenectomized dogs during exercise are discussed.