Effect of Reduced Renal Mass on Ammonium Handling and Net Acid Formation by the Superficial and Juxtamedullary Nephron of the Rat: EVIDENCE FOR IMPAIRED REENTRAPMENT RATHER THAN DECREASED PRODUCTION OF AMMONIUM IN THE ACIDOSIS OF UREMIA

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Abstract

Papillary and surface micropuncture were used to study the handling of ammonium and the formation of net acid by surface nephrons, deep nephrons, and the terminal segment of collecting duct (CD) after renal mass was reduced by two-thirds. Net acid excretion by the remnant kidney (RK) was significantly reduced, averaging 794±81 neq/min (SE) compared with 1,220±105 neq/min after sham operation (P < 0.001), due to a decrease in ammonium excretion (494±54 vs. 871±79 nmol/min in controls, P < 0.001). Urinary pH and titratable acid excretion were not different in the two groups of animals. After RK formation, ammonium delivery to the end of the proximal tubule increased nearly threefold and averaged 66.2±5.6 compared with 18.4±2.9 pmol/min in controls, (P < 0.001). This greater delivery of ammonium was primarily due to renal tubule entry rather than to changes in the filtered load and was only partially related to the differences in flow rate. Ammonium processing by deep nephrons was profoundly affected by a reduction in renal mass. Although absolute delivery of ammonium was greater to the bend of Henle's loop (BHL), the difference could be accounted for on the basis of an increase in nephron size. Thus, fractional delivery (FDNH+4) to this site was not different for the two groups of animals, averaging 1,567±180% in controls and 1,400±181% in the group with the RK. Hydrogen secretion in the proximal segments of deep and surface nephrons did not increase in proportion to the decrease in renal mass and as a consequence bicarbonate delivery to the end of the proximal tubule of surface nephrons and to the BHL of deep nephrons was increased.

Authors

John Buerkert, Daniel Martin, David Trigg, Eric Simon