Fig. 4.
AMPK agonists restore renal function and renal metabolic efficiency. Compared with the normal animals, untreated A/I rats exhibited a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate (A), representative of kidney function, and, an increase in the ratio of total renal oxygen consumption factored by the total amount of sodium reabsorbed (QO2/TNa) (B), indicating a decrease in renal metabolic efficiency, at 1 wk after injury. Agonist induction of AMPK activity with metformin (MET) or AICAR, significantly improved renal function (A) and corrected renal metabolic efficiency (B). *P < 0.01 vs. normal. Data are expressed as means ± SE. **P < 0.01 vs. A/I.