Effect of metabolic acidosis on NaCl transport in the proximal tubule.

In metabolic acidosis, the capacity of the proximal tubule for bicarbonate absorption is enhanced, whereas NaCl reabsorption is inhibited. Recent evidence indicates that transcellular NaCl absorption in the proximal tubule is mediated by apical membrane Cl/formate exchange and Cl/oxalate exchange, in parallel with recycling of these organic anions. We evaluated whether the effect of metabolic acidosis to inhibit NaCl reabsorption in the proximal tubule is due at least in part to inhibition of organic anion-dependent NaCl transport in this nephron segment. Absorption rates of bicarbonate (JHCO3), chloride (JCl), and fluid (Jv) were measured in rat proximal tubule segments microperfused in situ. We confirmed that metabolic acidosis stimulates JHCO3 in tubules microperfused with 25 mM HCO3, pH 7.4. For measurements of JCl, tubules were microperfused with a low-bicarbonate (5 mM), high-chloride solution, simulating conditions in the late proximal tubule. Under these conditions, baseline JCl and Jv measured in the absence of formate and oxalate were not significantly different between control and acidotic rats. However, whereas addition of 50 ¿M formate or 1 ¿M oxalate to luminal and capillary perfusates markedly stimulated JCl and Jv in control rats, formate and oxalate failed to stimulate JCl and Jv in acidotic rats. We conclude that metabolic acidosis markedly downregulates organic anion-stimulated NaCl absorption, thereby allowing differential regulation of proximal tubule NaHCO3 and NaCl transport.

Mechanisms of stimulation of proximal tubule chloride transport by formate and oxalate.

We have previously demonstrated that formate and oxalate stimulate volume absorption in the rat proximal tubule, consistent with Cl-/formate and Cl-/oxalate exchange process across the apical membrane. To sustain Cl- absorption by these processes requires mechanisms for recycling formate and oxalate from lumen to cell. The aims of the present study were to characterize these mechanisms of formate and oxalate recycling. Proximal tubules and peritubular capillaries were simultaneously microperfused in the rat kidney in situ. Serum formate concentration was determined to be 56.5 +/- 7.7 microM. Addition of 5, 50, and 500 microM formate to both luminal and capillary perfusates significantly increased net Cl- absorption (Jcl) by 26, 26, and 46%, respectively. Jcl was stimulated 38% by 1 microM oxalate added to the perfusates. Removal of sulfate completely prevented the stimulation of Jcl by 1 microM oxalate but had no effect on the stimulation of Jcl by formate. Luminal addition of the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor ethylisopropylamiloride completely blocked the stimulation of Jcl by 50 microM formate but had no effect on stimulation by oxalate. We conclude that physiological concentrations of formate and oxalate markedly stimulate Cl- and fluid absorption in the rat proximal convoluted tubule. Whereas formate recycling most likely involves Na+/H+ exchange in parallel with H(+)-coupled formate entry, oxalate recycling involves sodium-sulfate cotransport in parallel with sulfate/oxalate exchange.