Effect of calcium and phosphate on bicarbonate and fluid transport by proximal tubules in vitro

Ca2+ dependency of Na+ transport by rabbit renal brush border membrane

Intracellular Ca2+ has been suggested to play an important role in the regulation of epithelial Na+ transport. Previous studies showed that preincubation of toad urinary bladder, a tight epithelium, in Ca2+-free medium enhanced Na+ uptake by the subsequently isolated apical membrane vesicles, suggesting the downregulation of Na+ entry across the apical membrane by intracellular Ca2+. In the present study, we have examined the effect of Ca2+-free preincubation on apical membrane Na+ transport in a leaky epithelium, i.e., brush border membrane (BBM) of rabbit renal proximal tubule. In contrast to toad urinary bladder, it was found that BBM vesicles derived from proximal tubules incubated in 1 mM Ca2+ medium exhibited higher Na+ uptake than those derived from proximal tubules incubated in Ca2+-free EGTA medium. Such effect of Ca2+ in the preincubation medium was temperature dependent and could not be replaced by another divalent cation. Ba2+ (1 mM). Ca2+ in the preincubation medium did not affect Na+-dependent BBM glucose uptake, and its effect on BBM Na+ uptake was pH gradient dependent and amiloride (10(-3) M) sensitive, suggesting the involvement of Na+/H+ antiport system. Addition of verapamil (10(-4) M) to 1 mM Ca2+ preincubation medium abolished while ionomycin (10(-6) M) potentiated the effect of Ca2+ in the preincubation medium is likely to be mediated by Ca2+-dependent cellular pathways and not due to a direct effect of extracellular Ca2+ on BBM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkalosis and renal excretion of ammonia by rat kidney

Upon sulfate administration, UpH falls more in alkalotic rats than in controls. Alkalosis can lead to a reduction in UNH3 V at highly acidic urine. The significance of this process is doubtful at UpH ranging from about 6 to 7. At lower UpH less NH3 would be excreted, thereby less H+ would be trapped in urine and some acid would be conserved.

Modulation of phosphate absorption by calcium in the rabbit proximal convoluted tubule

Proximal convoluted (S2) and straight (S3) renal tubule segments were studied to determine the effect of Ca on lumen-to-bath phosphate flux (JlbPO4). Increasing bath and perfusate Ca from 1.8 to 3.6 mM enhanced JlbPO4 from 3.3 +/- 0.7 to 6.6 +/- 0.6 pmol/mm per min in S2 segments (P less than 0.001) but had no effect in S3 segments. Decreasing bath and perfusate Ca from 1.8 to 0.2 mM reduced JlbPO4 from 3.7 +/- 0.6 to 2.2 +/- 0.6 in S2 segments. These effects were unrelated to changes in fluid absorption and transepithelial potential difference. Increasing cytosolic Ca with a Ca ionophore, inhibiting the Ca-calmodulin complex with trifluoperazine, or applying the Ca channel blocker nifedipine had no effect on JlBPO4 in S2 segments. Increasing only bath Ca from 1.8 to 3.6 mM did not significantly affect JlbPO4. However, increasing only perfusate Ca enhanced JlbPO4 from 3.4 +/- 0.7 to 6.1 +/- 0.7 pmol/mm per min (P less than 0.005). Inhibition of hydrogen ion secretion, by using a low bicarbonate, low pH perfusate, both depressed base-line JlbPO4 and abolished the stimulatory effect of raising perfusate Ca. Net phosphate efflux (JnetPO4) also increased after ambient calcium levels were raised, ruling out a significant increase in PO4 backflux. When net sodium transport was abolished by reducing the bath temperature to 24 degrees C, JnetPO4 at normal ambient calcium was reduced and increasing ambient calcium failed to increase it, ruling out a simple physicochemical reaction wherein phosphate precipitates out of solution with calcium. The present studies provide direct evidence for a stimulatory effect of Ca on sodium-dependent PO4 absorption in the proximal convoluted tubule, exerted at the luminal membrane. It is postulated that Ca modulates the affinity of the PO4 transporter for the anion.