THE EFFECTS OF SALINE INFUSION ON SODIUM REABSORPTION BY THE PROXIMAL TUBULE OF THE DOG

Effect of changes in renal perfusion pressure on the suppression of proximal tubular sodium reabsorption due to saline loading

Rapid intravenous infusion of saline is known to suppress reabsorption of sodium and water in the proximal tubule. It has previously been shown that this suppression is accompanied by two changes which in combination might account for the over-all decrease in reabsorption: a reduction in the intrinsic reabsorptive capacity of the tubular epithelium (C/pir(2)) and a reduction in the ratio between tubular volume and GFR (pir(2)d/V(o)). The present micropuncture experiments were carried out in order to study the possible role of altered peritubular physical forces (hydrostatic and colloid oncotic pressure) in mediating these two changes. Proximal tubular reabsorptive capacity, transit time, fractional reabsorption of sodium and water, pir(2)d/V(o), and intratubular hydrostatic pressure were measured in saline-loaded rats during acute changes in renal perfusion pressure induced by intermittent constriction of the abdominal aorta. We found that when renal perfusion pressure was lowered to 70-90 mm Hg, the usual effects of saline loading on C/pir(2), pir(2)d/V(o), and fractional reabsorption in the proximal tubule were greatly minimized. When the aortic clamp was released and renal perfusion pressure allowed to rise, C/pir(2), pir(2)d/V(o), and fractional reabsorption fell markedly to levels characteristically seen in saline diuresis. Reclamping of the aorta reversed all of these changes. In order to determine whether the changes in C/pir(2) accompanying changes in renal perfusion pressure were mediated by a circulating natriuretic hormone, we assayed in hydopenic rats the dialysate of plasma collected from saline-loaded rats during and after release of aortic constriction by the split oil drop method. No significant difference in reabsorptive half-time (t(1/2)) was found between the two dialysates, and t(1/2) with both dialysates was approximately the same as was found when isotonic saline was injected in the tubules of hydropenic control animals. These observations suggest that the large changes in C/pir(2) which occurred with changes in renal perfusion pressure in saline-loaded rats were not mediated by a circulating hormone. We suggest that the reduction in C/pir(2), pir(2)d/V(o), and fractional reabsorption which occurs in the proximal tubule during a saline diuresis is related to the rise in hydrostatic pressure within the kidney.

Control of fluid absorption in the renal proximal tubule

Glomerulotubular balance was investigated in isolated, perfused rabbit proximal tubules in vitro in order to evaluate some of the mechanisms proposed to account for the proportionate relationship between glomerular filtration rate and fluid absorption generally observed in vivo. The rate of fluid transport from lumen to bath in proximal convoluted tubules in vitro was approximately equal to the estimated normal rate in vivo. The absorption rate in proximal straight tubules however was approximately one-half as great. If the mechanism responsible for maintenance of glomerulotubular balance is intrinsic to the proximal tubule, as has been proposed on the basis of micropuncture studies, the rate of fluid absorption in vitro should be directly related to the perfusion rate and/or tubule volume. In the present studies absorption rate was only minimally affected when perfusion rate was increased or the tubule distended. Thus, glomerulotubular balance is not mediated by changes in velocity of flow of the tubular fluid or tubular diameter and therefore is not an intrinsic property of the proximal tubule. It has also been proposed that glomerulotubular balance results from a humoral feedback mechanism in which angiotensin directly inhibits fluid absorption by the proximal convoluted tubule. In the present experiments, angiotensin was found to have no significant effect on absorption rate.

Depression of fractional sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule of the dog without sodium diuresis

The effect of infusions of hyperoncotic solutions on fractional sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule of the dog was studied by the recollection micropuncture method. Tubule fluid to plasma inulin concentration ratios were measured for identified proximal tubule segments before and after infusion of 25% albumin or dextran solutions. Results were compared with changes in fractional reabsorption during saline diuresis. Plasma volume increased 66% +/- SE 5.8 after infusion of albumin solution and 94% +/- SE 8.2 after infusion of dextran solution. Fractional sodium reabosorption by the proximal tubule was depressed after infusion of both of these hyperoncotic solutions. Nevertheless, changes in sodium excretion after infusion of albumin and dextran were small. In contrast, after infusions of isotonic sodium chloride solution, which increased plasma volume 61% +/- SE 5.8, a decrease in fractional reabsorption of 50.7% +/- SE 7.2 was associated with large changes in sodium excretion.

The relationship between glomerular filtration rate and sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule of the rat nephron

We have tested two of the hypotheses proposed to explain the adjustment in sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule that follows a change in the rate of glomerular filtration (glomerulotubular balance). Using the recollection micropuncture technique, we were able to measure the immediate and late changes in reabsorptive rate after an acute alteration in filtration rate produced by aortic constriction and release of constriction. It was found that fractional reabsorption, as measured by the inulin tubule fluid to plasma (TF/P) ratio, increased after aortic constriction and decreased after release, but that in most instances, absolute reabsorptive rate changed in parallel to glomerular filtration rate. The change was similar whether the collections were made less than 1 or more than 5 min after the change in blood pressure. The rapid time course of this adjustment in reabsorptive rate is viewed as evidence against an intrarenal humoral feedback mechanism. In the same experiments we measured the (TF/P)(In), transit time, and flow rate of fluid in single nephrons before and during aortic constriction or release of aortic constriction. The change in reabsorptive rate and the simultaneous change in calculated cross-sectional area of the tubule lumen were rarely proportional, i.e., C/pir(2) was not constant. In other experiments, these same measurements were made before and during periods of increased ureteral pressure. Despite large increments in calculated cross-sectional area, the absolute rate of reabsorption either remained relatively unchanged or fell in proportion to the change in filtration rate. It is concluded that under these conditions, reabsorptive rate is governed by some factor other than tubule geometry.

Correction of metabolic alkalosis by the kidney after isomertric expansion of extracellular fluid

Metabolic alkalosis was induced in dogs by administering ethacrynic acid and sustained by feeding a chloride-deficient diet. At the height of the alkalosis extracellular fluid was expanded "isometrically," i.e., with an infusion that duplicated plasma sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate concentrations. Correction of metabolic alkalosis promptly followed such expansion and was attributed to the selective retention by the kidneys of chloride from the administered solution. Since plasma chloride concentration was not increased as an immediate consequence of the infusion, it is concluded that the change in renal tubular function that led to the selective retention of chloride must have been mediated by factors independent of filtrate chloride concentration.A decrease in circulating mineralocorticoid level, as a consequence of volume expansion, does not seem to account for this change in tubular function since identical studies in dogs receiving excessive amounts of 11-deoxycorticosterone acetate during the day of infusion yielded similar findings. Moreover, no other consequence of volume expansion appears to be sufficient to cause this change in tubular function in the absence of metabolic alkalosis; when the alkalosis was corrected with hydrochloric acid before infusion, isometric expansion of extracellular volume did not induce selective chloride retention. We suggest that isometric expansion during metabolic alkalosis causes a decrease in proximal sodium reabsorption that relinquishes filtrate to a more distal site in the nephron and that this site may retain chloride preferentially when hypochloremia or chloride deficiency is present.

Renal sodium reabsorption after acute renal denervation in the rabbit

1. Separate effects on the functions of left and right kidneys were examined after left-sided renal handling and acute denervation. Studies were done on pentobarbital-anaesthetized rabbits using clearance techniques to evaluate renal haemodynamics and water and electrolyte excretion.2. When compared with its counterpart, the handled kidney exhibited some decrease in function for at least 20 min. Recovery of most functions occurred in 40-60 min.3. The effects of denervation on renal functions were observed when the effects of handling had subsided. Renal plasma flow (R.P.F.) and glomerular filtration rate (G.F.R.) were not significantly changed, whereas the decrease in Na, K and water excretion, which was usually observed for no ascertained reason in the innervated kidney, was prevented.4. The magnitude of the denervation natriuresis was greater in these rabbits than in dogs studied previously; other functions studied were comparable in the two species.5. The results from thirty-five experiments are interpreted to indicate that denervation decreases Na reabsorption independently of G.F.R., perhaps by a direct effect on tubular transport, but more probably by a redistribution of filtration to nephrons of lesser reabsorptive capacity.

Effects of five per cent dextros-water infusions in normal and hypertensive man. Evidence for increased proximal and distal tubular sodium rejection by hypertensive patients and its relation to renal hemodynamics

During infusions of 5% dextrose in water urinary sodium excretion and the renal tubular rejection of filtered sodium (E/F Na %) were significantly higher in hypertensive than in normotensive subjects. Increased E/F Na % did not result from alterations in plasma sodium, in filtered sodium, or from an osmotic diuresis.

Fractional sodium reabsorption in proximal (isosmotic) portions of the nephron was diminished in the hypertensive patients. Free water formation (C H H2 o rose with increased "distal" sodium delivery (V) in both groups; however, fractional sodium reabsorption in the "distal" nephron was significantly impaired in the hypertensive patients and urinary osmolality was increased.

Mean arterial blood pressure and E/F Na % were related in curvilinear fashion in the 31 studies, and there was a direct relation between E/F Na % and the magnitude of renal vascular resistance. The data suggested that alterations of renal arterial pressure and vascular resistance in hypertensive disease modify sodium transport in proximal and diluting segments of the nephron and determine to a major extent the increased natriuresis exhibited by hypertensive subjects during infusions that expand extracellular fluid volume.

Demonstration of a hormonal inhibitor of proximal tubular reabsorption during expansion of extracellular volume with isotonic saline

Evidence for the elaboration of a hormonal inhibitor of renal tubular reabsorption in response to expansion of extracellular fluid volume was obtained by examining the effects of plasma from rats and dogs undergoing saline diuresis on the rate of proximal tubular reabsorption measured both directly by micropuncture techniques and indirectly by clearance techniques. Intravenous infusion of plasma from salineloaded rats and dogs, but not plasma from control animals, inhibited the intrinsic reabsorptive capacity of the proximal tubule (as estimated from the shrinking-drop technique) by 35%, and reduced fractional reabsorption (as estimated from the tubular fluid-to-plasma ratio) by 20%. In addition the natriuretic plasma increased urine flow, solute-free water clearance, and potassium excretion in rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus, indicating an increase in the delivery of filtrate out of the proximal tubule to the more distal diluting segments of the nephron. The hormonal inhibition of proximal tubular reabsorption had an extremely rapid onset of action (within seconds after instillation into the tubular lumen) and a short duration of action (less than 30 min after cessation of an intravenous infusion). Inhibitory activity was lost from natriuretic plasma upon dialysis and could be recovered in the dialysate. Dialysates of natriuretic plasma, when injected directly into the tubular lumen, also inhibited proximal reabsorption, indicating an action on the luminal side of the cell.

Demonstraton of a role of physical factors as determinants of the natriuretic response to volume expansion

The importance of plasma protein concentration, renal vascular resistance, and arterial pressure as mediators of the natriuretic response to volume expansion was investigated in anesthetized dogs. Saline loading depressed plasma protein concentration and increased arterial pressure but did not decrease renal vascular resistance. Restoring plasma protein concentration by infusing hyperoncotic albumin increased sodium reabsorption and decreased sodium excretion during saline loading despite simultaneous decreases in renal vascular resistance and increases in arterial pressure. Infusion of "plasma" did not depress plasma protein concentration and produced natriuresis associated with increased arterial pressure and marked decreases in renal vascular resistance. Unilateral hemodynamic natriuresis was produced before "plasma" loading by the renal arterial infusion of acetylcholine, and the subsequent infusion of "plasma" resulted in much smaller increases in sodium excretion by the vasodilated kidney than by the control kidney. If perfusion pressure to both kidneys was then reduced by aortic constriction sodium excretion by the vasodilated kidney could be reduced to preloading (vasodilated) levels without reduced glomerular filtration, despite continued natriuresis in control kidneys which underwent vasodilatation in response to the infusion of plasma. Infusion of equilibrated whole blood did not alter plasma protein concentration or the hematocrit, and renal vascular resistance did not decrease. Sodium excretion was increased minimally or not at all by the infusion of blood despite increased arterial pressure and glomerular filtration. However, in kidneys vasodilated before infusing blood sodium excretion increased in response to the infusion in association with increased arterial pressure. This increased excretion of sodium by vasodilated kidneys during infusion of blood could be abolished by reducing perfusion pressure to the preloading level. These observations indicate that changes in plasma oncotic pressure, renal vascular resistance, and arterial pressure either alone or in combination are important variables determining the natriuretic response to volume expansion, and that the relative importance of each of these factors depends on the manner in which volume is expanded (viz., the infusion of saline, plasma, or blood).

Functional characteristics of the diluting segment of the dog nephron and the effect of extracellular volume expansion on its reabsorptive capacity

The functional characteristics of the ascending limb of Henle's loop were examined during hypotonic saline infusion by measuring solutefree water clearance (C(H2O)) at varying rates of solute delivery. The influence of expansion of extracellular volume was studied by comparing C(H2O) during hypotonic saline diuresis in normal dogs with dogs whose extracellular volume had been expanded acutely by saline infusions or chronically by the administration of deoxycorticosterone acetate and salt. In normal animals hypotonic saline infusions greatly increased urine flow (V) and C(H2O) without appreciably augmenting osmolar clearance (C(osm)). C(H2O) was, therefore, analyzed as a function of V, rather than C(osm), since V was the best estimate of delivery of filtrate to the diluting segment. C(H2O) increased as a linear function of V without any evidence of saturation.The validity of interpreting increases in C(H2O) and V as indications of increased sodium reabsorption and delivery was reinforced by tissue studies that disclosed a rise in papillary osmolality with rising urine flows. The observed increase in C(H2O) and V could not, therefore, be due to a decrease in back diffusion of solute-free water as a result of a diminished osmotic driving force, but probably represented increased formation consequent to augmented delivery as a result of decreased fractional reabsorption in the proximal tubule. In animals whose extracellular volume was acutely or chronically overexpanded before the infusion of hypotonic saline, sodium excretion was greater, and C(H2O) less, at any given V. Although the curve relating C(H2O) to V was flatter than in the control group, no tubular maximum was observed. The diminished C(H2O) in this group was interpreted to mean that massive expansion of extracellular volume inhibits sodium reabsorption in the ascending limb of Henle's loop.

The effects of infusion of water on renal hemodynamics and the tubular reabsorption of sodium

Anesthetized dogs receiving an infusion of chlorothiazide and ethacrynic acid were given 600-ml infusions of distilled water or dilute dextrose solutions. The absolute rate of tubular sodium reabsorption was depressed, and the glomerular filtration rate was increased during the water loading, despite the associated decreases in plasma sodium concentration and decreases in the filtered load of sodium. The extent to which fractional sodium reabsorption decreased and the excretion of sodium increased was inversely related to the degree to which the filtered load of sodium was depressed as a result of the decreased plasma sodium concentration. We conclude that, in the presence of the diuretic blockade of distal tubular sodium reabsorption, infusion of water depresses proximal tubular reabsorption of sodium and that these changes are qualitatively similar to those previously observed during infusions of saline. Similar depression of tubular reabsorption of sodium and increased excretion of sodium occurred during water loading in the absence of diuretics in dogs undergoing saline diuresis, which presumably provided a high rate of distal sodium reabsorption before water loading. We suggest that volume expansion with water depresses proximal tubular reabsorption of sodium in a manner qualitatively similar to infusions of saline and that the extent to which sodium excretion is increased during water loading is dependent upon 1) the absolute extent to which proximal reabsorption is depressed, 2) the extent to which the filtered load of sodium is maintained in the presence of a falling concentration of sodium in plasma, and 3) the extent to which increased distal reabsorption compensates for the depressed proximal reabsorption of sodium. Mechanisms are suggested whereby the previously reported inverse relationship between plasma concentration of sodium and over-all tubular reabsorption of sodium may be only apparent, and could be the result of physiologic "glomerulotubular balance" during the specific experimental maneuvers.

Changes in proximal and distal tubular reabsorption produced by rapid expansion of extracellular fluid

Acute infusions of isotonic saline in the rat cause an increase in glomerular filtration rate and in the excretion of salt and water. The kidney swells, due to expansion of tubular and interstitial volume. Despite the increase in tubular diameter, transit time through the proximal tubules and loops of Henle is decreased, presumably owing to a greatly accelerated rate of tubular flow. Proximal tubular reabsorption, measured in blocked tubules, is inhibited in a way that cannot be ascribed to changes in tubular diameter. The prolongation of proximal reabsorptive half-time is not affected by the administration of aldosterone. It occurs equally in rats chronically loaded with or deprived of salt, and it is therefore not likely that it is influenced by the renal content of renin. In contrast, reabsorption from the distal convoluted tubule is enhanced by saline infusion. This change is observed in segments of tubules blocked with oil and isolated from their glomeruli and thus appears to occur independently of changes in glomerular filtration or tubular flow.

Effects of hypotonic saline loading in hydrated dog: evidence for a saline-induced limit on distal tubular sodium transport

We performed studies on dogs under hydrated conditions, utilizing the rate of free water formation (C(H2O)) as an index of the rate of distal tubular sodium transport. Since C(H2O) could be progressively increased with no evidence of a maximal rate during loading with hypotonic (2.5%) mannitol, it was concluded that there is no limit on distal tubular sodium transport during mannitol loading. In contrast, during hypotonic (0.45%) saline loading C(H2O) rose initially, but as urine flow (V) exceeded 25% of the filtered load C(H2O) attained maximal levels (up to 20% of the filtered load) and remained stable as V increased to 50% of the filtered load. It was concluded that saline loading progressively inhibits proximal sodium reabsorption. Initially, the distal tubule absorbes a large fraction of the proximal rejectate and sodium excretion rises slightly. Eventually, an alteration in distal sodium transport appears which culminates in a maximal rate or transport limit. This distal transport limit provoked by saline loading could not be characterized by a classical Tm as seen with glucose and does not seem to be consequent to high rates of flow through the distal tubule. Regardless of the precise nature of this limit, the major increment in sodium excretion develops during saline loading only after saline alters the capacity of the distal tubule to transport sodium.

Evidence that an acute increase in glomerular filtration has little effect on sodium excretion in the dog unless extracellular volume is expanded

The concept that acute increases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) will cause large concomitant increases in sodium excretion has been re-examined. In previous work, GFR was elevated by volume expansion, usually with saline infusions. Recent evidence shows that tubular reabsorption is depressed during saline loading; hence, the independent effect of increased GFR on sodium excretion cannot be assessed.TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF ACUTE INCREASES IN GFR PER SE ON SODIUM EXCRETION, WE RAISED GFR BY FOUR TECHNIQUES NOT INVOLVING VOLUME EXPANSION: protein feeding, dopamine infusion, intravenous dexamethasone, and cross-circulation. GFR increased acutely by 5 to 85% in these experiments. In 12 of 24 experiments, GFR increased by more than 30%. In all but one experiment, sodium excretion increased by less than 75 muEq per minute. Data from experiments using each of the four techniques were comparable. The results were the same whether mineralocorticoid activity was high or low. In contrast, during saline loading, sodium excretion increased more than 800 muEq per minute with equal or lesser changes in GFR. These results demonstrate that acute increases in GFR per se have little effect on sodium excretion. We suggest that, due to constant fractional sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubule (glomerulotubular balance) and increased distal reabsorption, virtually all of the increase in filtered sodium is reabsorbed when GFR increases. Depression of tubular reabsorption is required for natriuresis.

The mechanism of suppression of proximal tubular reabsorption by saline infusions

The mechanism by which expansion of extracellular fluid volume with isotonic saline suppresses reabsorption in the proximal tubule was studied in rats by examining the relations among glomerular filtration rate (GFR), absolute and fractional reabsorption of filtrate, intrinsic reabsorptive capacity (rate of reabsorption per unit tubular volume), transit time, and tubular volume. Saline infusions reduced the per cent of the glomerular filtrate reabsorbed in the proximal tubule from 50% during antidiuresis to 25% during saline diuresis. The suppression of proximal reabsorption was the result of two factors: 1) a 30% reduction of intrinsic reabsorptive capacity, and 2) a 26% reduction of tubular volume per unit GFR.GFR invariably rose during saline diuresis. However, prevention of the rise in GFR by aortic clamping had no effect on either the inhibition of intrinsic reabsorptive capacity or the reduction in tubular volume per unit GFR produced by saline infusions. Expansion of extracellular fluid volume with isotonic saline, therefore, depressed intrinsic reabsorptive capacity and tubular volume per unit GFR by some mechanism completely independent of GFR. The effects of furosemide administration were contrasted with those of saline infusions. Furosemide inhibited intrinsic reabsorptive capacity by 40% but had no significant effect on proximal fractional reabsorption. The failure to suppress fractional reabsorption was the consequence of a disproportionate rise in tubular volume (relative to GFR) that was sufficient to completely overcome the inhibition of intrinsic reabsorptive capacity. Inhibition of intrinsic reabsorptive capacity alone, therefore, will not result in a net suppression of reabsorption of filtrate in the proximal tubule. We concluded that, although intrinsic reabsorptive capacity was inhibited during saline diuresis, the critical factor responsible for translating this inhibition into effective net suppression of proximal reabsorption was the observed reduction in tubular volume per unit GFR.