A patient is given a drug that dilates the afferent arteriole and contracts the efferent arteriole, leaving toral renal vascular resistance unchanged. Select the set of changes listed in the following table that are likely to occur (note: I = increased, D = decreased, NC = no change)
High-Yield Explanation
Total vascular resistance would remain unchanged if the drop in resistance caused by dilation of the afferent arteriole were exactly matched by the increase in resistance caused by contraction of the efferent arteriole. If vascular resistance is unchanged, renal blood flow remains unchanged. In contrast, both dilation of the afferent arteriole and contraction of the efferent arteriole would increase glomerular hydrostatic pressure and, consequently, glomerular filtration rate (GFR). An increase in GFR with no change in renal blood flow would lead to an increase in filtration fraction.