Sodium and potassium movements in kidney cortex slices from new-born animals

An energy-dependent, sodium-independent component of active p-aminohippurate transport in rabbit renal cortex

1. The relation between the coupling of metabolic energy to renal p-aminohippurate (PAH) accumulation and Na+-K+ transport was studied in rabbit cortical slices. 2. Cyanide (CN-), 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and fluoride (F-( at low-medium concentrations, giving rise to a slight decline of tissue ATP concentration, caused a reduction o PAH accumulation without significantly affecting intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations. However, higher levels of the metabolic inhibitors also resulted in considerable inhibition of active Na+-K+ transport. 3. The rate of carrier-mediated PAH uptake was slow under anaerobic conditions, relative to that measured under aerobic conditions in Na+-depleted slices. In the latter case the maximal accumulation achieved was only 1.55 +/- 0.16. 4. The uptake rate of PAH under anaerobic conditions was not inhibited by the absence of Na+ or addition of metabolic inhibitors in the concentrations used under aerobic conditions. 5. It is concluded that although Na+ is required for the attainment of high accumulation ratios of PAH, oxidative metabolism stimulates PAH flux by a Na+-independent mechanism.

Interaction between motor axons from two different nerves reinnervating the pectoral muscle of Xenopus laevis

1. An electrophysiological and morphological study of sprouting and regeneration of motor nerves has been performed in the dually innervated pectoral muscle of Xenopus laevis. 2. Section of one of the nerves induced axon sprouting in the intact nerve. Synapse formation by the sprouting axons was slow since the intact nerve took more than 3 months to increase its field of innervation by 70%. The rate of axon regeneration was faster than that of axon sprouting since the cut nerve reinnervated its former territory in less than 1 month. 3. At early stages of synapse formation the sprouted or regenerated endings were poorly branched but any terminal branches were, as a rule, longer than normal. Signs of degeneration and replacement of endings have been observed. 4. Low levels of transmitter release persisted for several months in newly formed endings. This depression was more pronounced at the endings formed outside the normal field of innervation of the nerve. 5. Poly-innervated muscle fibres have been observed during reinnervation by regenerated or sprouted axons. Their number decreases gradually in the months that follow the beginning of reinnervation. Synaptic efficacy was lower at poly than at mono-innervated muscle fibres. At doubly innervated spots and at separated spots on the same fibre average end-plate potential (e.p.p.) amplitude was 1/3 and 2/3 respectively of that recorded at singly innervated fibres. 6. Electrophysiological and morphological data have been compared at individual doubly innervated end-plate sites. End-plate potential amplitude was positively correlated with the degree of ending development. 7. Sprouted endings remain functional after periods of reinnervation of 30 months, although signs of regression have been observed. These are probably mediated by spontaneous degeneration of the terminals and replacement by endings from the regenerating nerve.

Renal response of the lamb fetus to partial occlusion of the umbilical cord

The role of the fetal kidney during impairment of placental exchange was studied in eight fetal lambs, intact in utero; a standard asphyxial insult for a period of 1 hour was produced by occluding the umbilical cord sufficiently to lower the fetal heart rate by 35 +/- 5 beats/min and the pH by 0.15 units. This asphyxial stress caused a fall in urine output from a control of 0.17 to 0.03 ml/kg/min and of glomerular filtration rate from 1.2 to 0.3 ml/min; release of the occlusion was followed by mild diuresis. The fall in urine output was accompanied by a rise in total primary solutes including concentrations of electrolytes; this rise continued for 1 to 2 hours following the release of the occlusion. Because of the low urinary output during the period of occlusion, there was a fall in excretion of electrolyte; an increase in net acid excretion occurred only after the release of the cord. These experiments show that, although the fetal kidney is capable of contributing to elimination of acid following compression of the cord, there may be an associated net loss of water and electrolytes.

The transfer of free alpha-amino nitrogen across the placental membrane in the guinea-pig

1. Transfer of endogenous alpha-amino nitrogen from the maternal to foetal side of the placental membrane was studied in the foetal guinea-pig placenta perfused, in situ via the umbilical vessels, with an artificial fluid. Changes in maternal placental blood flow were followed by measuring the transfer of antipyrine into the perfusate.2. Active transport by the membrane was demonstrated under these conditions by observing the increased ratio of L/D leucine appearing in the perfusate in comparison with the maternal plasma ratio.3. Reduction in maternal placental flow following haemorrhage was associated with a fall in transfer of amino nitrogen to about half of the control values.4. The concentration of alpha-amino nitrogen in the perfusate was inversely proportional to the foetal placental flow which had a smaller influence on amino nitrogen transfer per min than did the maternal blood flow.5. Hypoxia and some inhibitors of oxidative metabolism were without influence on the transfer of alpha-amino nitrogen in this preparation.

Rates of oxygen consumption and of anaerobic glycolysis in renal cortex and medulla of adult and new-born rats and guinea-pigs

1. Rates of oxygen uptake and of anaerobic glycolysis were estimated in slices from the renal cortex and medulla (a) of adult rats and guinea-pigs, (b) of new-born (1-, 5- and 21-day-old) rats and of guinea-pigs of 1, 12, 21, 24 and 120 hr age.2. In the adult rat, Q(O2) values for the cortex were 12.55 +/- 0.20 (22) and for the medulla: 8.56 +/- 0.17 (22) mul./hr.mg dry weight, while in the new-born rat (24 hr old) they were 10.99 +/- 0.46 (12) and 9.33 +/- 0.18 (9) mul./hr.mg dry weight respectively.3. Values for Q(CO2) (N2) (anaerobic glycolysis) in the 14 hr old new-born rat were in the renal cortex 9.65 +/- 0.35 (5) and in the medulla 7.39 +/- 0.43 (5) mul./hr.mg dry weight; while in the adult they were 2.25 +/- 0.08 (16) and 5.76 +/- 0.14 (16) mul./hr.mg dry weight, respectively.4. In the adult guinea-pig values for Q(CO2) (N2) were of the same order as in the adult rat, though the rate of O(2) uptake was for the cortex 8.12 +/- 0.22 (12) and for the medulla 5.02 +/- 0.23 (11) mul./hr.mg dry weight.5. Though the Q(O2) values in the renal cortex and medulla were smaller in the 1 hr old new-born guinea-pig, they were already increasing in the 12 hr old neonate.6. The results are discussed in the light of enzyme changes occurring during the process of maturation of the nephron as indicated by histochemical observations.