scholarly journals Ammonia Transporters and Their Role in Acid-Base Balance

2017 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. David Weiner ◽  
Jill W. Verlander
Keyword(s):  
Ammonia Excretion ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Molecular Forms ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Titratable Acid ◽  
Renal Net Acid Excretion ◽  
Ammonia Transport ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

Acid-base homeostasis is critical to maintenance of normal health. Renal ammonia excretion is the quantitatively predominant component of renal net acid excretion, both under basal conditions and in response to acid-base disturbances. Although titratable acid excretion also contributes to renal net acid excretion, the quantitative contribution of titratable acid excretion is less than that of ammonia under basal conditions and is only a minor component of the adaptive response to acid-base disturbances. In contrast to other urinary solutes, ammonia is produced in the kidney and then is selectively transported either into the urine or the renal vein. The proportion of ammonia that the kidney produces that is excreted in the urine varies dramatically in response to physiological stimuli, and only urinary ammonia excretion contributes to acid-base homeostasis. As a result, selective and regulated renal ammonia transport by renal epithelial cells is central to acid-base homeostasis. Both molecular forms of ammonia, NH3 and NH4+, are transported by specific proteins, and regulation of these transport processes determines the eventual fate of the ammonia produced. In this review, we discuss these issues, and then discuss in detail the specific proteins involved in renal epithelial cell ammonia transport.

Inner medullary collecting duct function during rebound alkalemia

1987 ◽  
Vol 252 (4) ◽  
pp. F712-F716
Author(s):  
H. H. Bengele ◽  
E. R. McNamara ◽  
J. H. Schwartz ◽  
E. A. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Proton Secretion ◽  
Inner Medullary Collecting Duct ◽  
Titratable Acid ◽  
Base Parameters ◽  
Arterial Ph ◽  
Medullary Collecting Duct ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

Rats, made acidemic when fed NH4Cl, become alkalemic with discontinuation of the NH4Cl. This phenomenon has been called rebound metabolic alkalemia (RMA). This study examines the function of the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) during RMA. Rats drank only 1.5% NH4Cl for 5 days and then water for 16 h prior to study, yielding an arterial pH = 7.50 +/- 0.01, PCO2 = 39 +/- 1 mmHg, and bicarbonate = 29.5 +/- 1.0 mM. The IMCD data were obtained by microcatheterization from deep (1.5-3.0 mm) and tip (0.2-0.5 mm) samples. Equilibrium pH decreased from 5.92 +/- 0.09 (n = 20) to 5.38 +/- 0.04 (n = 20) and PCO2 increased from 32 +/- 1 to 38 +/- 1 mmHg between deep and tip samples. Bicarbonate delivery decreased from 37 +/- 8 to 7 +/- 1 nmol/min. Titratable acid and ammonium delivery increased from 284 +/- 52 to 347 +/- 62 nmol/min and from 549 +/- 38 to 685 +/- 40 nmol/min, respectively. Calculated net acid excretion increased from 796 +/- 88 to 1,026 +/- 95 nmol/min. Thus during RMA, proton secretion continues along the IMCD, although there is a systemic alkalemia. It appears that factors in addition to systemic acid-base parameters are important in the regulation of proton secretion by the IMCD.

scholarly journals Effect of dietary protein restriction on renal ammonia metabolism

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (12) ◽  
pp. F1463-F1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Wook Lee ◽  
Gunars Osis ◽  
Mary E. Handlogten ◽  
Hui Guo ◽  
Jill W. Verlander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Ammonia Excretion ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Protein Restriction ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Ammonia Metabolism ◽  
Dietary Protein Restriction ◽  
Ammonia Transport ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

Dietary protein restriction has multiple benefits in kidney disease. Because protein intake is a major determinant of endogenous acid production, it is important that net acid excretion change in parallel during protein restriction. Ammonia is the primary component of net acid excretion, and inappropriate ammonia excretion can lead to negative nitrogen balance. Accordingly, we examined ammonia excretion in response to protein restriction and then we determined the molecular mechanism of the changes observed. Wild-type C57Bl/6 mice fed a 20% protein diet and then changed to 6% protein developed an 85% reduction in ammonia excretion within 2 days, which persisted during a 10-day study. The expression of multiple proteins involved in renal ammonia metabolism was altered, including the ammonia-generating enzymes phosphate-dependent glutaminase (PDG) and phospho enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and the ammonia-metabolizing enzyme glutamine synthetase. Rhbg, an ammonia transporter, increased in expression in the inner stripe of outer medullary collecting duct intercalated cell (OMCDis-IC). However, collecting duct-specific Rhbg deletion did not alter the response to protein restriction. Rhcg deletion did not alter ammonia excretion in response to dietary protein restriction. These results indicate 1) dietary protein restriction decreases renal ammonia excretion through coordinated regulation of multiple components of ammonia metabolism; 2) increased Rhbg expression in the OMCDis-IC may indicate a biological role in addition to ammonia transport; and 3) Rhcg expression is not necessary to decrease ammonia excretion during dietary protein restriction.

Whole body acid-base modeling revisited

2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (4) ◽  
pp. F647-F653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troels Ring ◽  
Søren Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Acid Production ◽  
Negative Charge ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base Balance ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Conventional Model ◽  
Renal Net Acid Excretion ◽  
Base Balance ◽  
Alkali Absorption

The textbook account of whole body acid-base balance in terms of endogenous acid production, renal net acid excretion, and gastrointestinal alkali absorption, which is the only comprehensive model around, has never been applied in clinical practice or been formally validated. To improve understanding of acid-base modeling, we managed to write up this conventional model as an expression solely on urine chemistry. Renal net acid excretion and endogenous acid production were already formulated in terms of urine chemistry, and we could from the literature also see gastrointestinal alkali absorption in terms of urine excretions. With a few assumptions it was possible to see that this expression of net acid balance was arithmetically identical to minus urine charge, whereby under the development of acidosis, urine was predicted to acquire a net negative charge. The literature already mentions unexplained negative urine charges so we scrutinized a series of seminal papers and confirmed empirically the theoretical prediction that observed urine charge did acquire negative charge as acidosis developed. Hence, we can conclude that the conventional model is problematic since it predicts what is physiologically impossible. Therefore, we need a new model for whole body acid-base balance, which does not have impossible implications. Furthermore, new experimental studies are needed to account for charge imbalance in urine under development of acidosis.

scholarly journals Ca2+-driven intestinal HCO3− secretion and CaCO3 precipitation in the European flounder in vivo: influences on acid-base regulation and blood gas transport

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (4) ◽  
pp. R870-R876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Cooper ◽  
Jonathan M. Whittamore ◽  
Rod W. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Teleost Fish ◽  
Gas Transport ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Marine Teleost ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Marine Teleost Fish ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

Marine teleost fish continuously ingest seawater to prevent dehydration and their intestines absorb fluid by mechanisms linked to three separate driving forces: 1) cotransport of NaCl from the gut fluid; 2) bicarbonate (HCO3−) secretion and Cl− absorption via Cl−/HCO3− exchange fueled by metabolic CO2; and 3) alkaline precipitation of Ca2+ as insoluble CaCO3, which aids H2O absorption). The latter two processes involve high rates of epithelial HCO3− secretion stimulated by intestinal Ca2+ and can drive a major portion of water absorption. At higher salinities and ambient Ca2+ concentrations the osmoregulatory role of intestinal HCO3− secretion is amplified, but this has repercussions for other physiological processes, in particular, respiratory gas transport (as it is fueled by metabolic CO2) and acid-base regulation (as intestinal cells must export H+ into the blood to balance apical HCO3− secretion). The flounder intestine was perfused in vivo with salines containing 10, 40, or 90 mM Ca2+. Increasing the luminal Ca2+ concentration caused a large elevation in intestinal HCO3− production and excretion. Additionally, blood pH decreased (−0.13 pH units) and plasma partial pressure of CO2 (Pco2) levels were elevated (+1.16 mmHg) at the highest Ca perfusate level after 3 days of perfusion. Increasing the perfusate [Ca2+] also produced proportional increases in net acid excretion via the gills. When the net intestinal flux of all ions across the intestine was calculated, there was a greater absorption of anions than cations. This missing cation flux was assumed to be protons, which vary with an almost 1:1 relationship with net acid excretion via the gill. This study illustrates the intimate link between intestinal HCO3− production and osmoregulation with acid-base balance and respiratory gas exchange and the specific controlling role of ingested Ca2+ independent of any other ion or overall osmolality in marine teleost fish.

Role of organic anions in renal response to dietary acid and base loads

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. F170-F176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Brown ◽  
R. K. Packer ◽  
M. A. Knepper
Keyword(s):  
Organic Anion ◽  
Organic Anions ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base Balance ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Urine Ph ◽  
Renal Response ◽  
Base Balance ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

Bicarbonate is formed when organic anions are oxidized systemically. Therefore, changes in organic anion excretion can affect systemic acid-base balance. To assess the role of organic anions in urinary acid-base excretion, we measured urinary excretion in control rats, NaHCO3-loaded rats, and NH4Cl-loaded rats. Total organic anions were measured by the titration method of Van Slyke. As expected, NaHCO3 loading increased urine pH and decreased net acid excretion (NH4+ + titratable acid - HCO3-), whereas NH4Cl loading had the opposite effect. Organic anion excretion was increased in response to NaHCO3 loading and decreased in response to NH4Cl loading. We quantified the overall effect of organic ion plus inorganic buffer ion excretion on acid-base balance. The amounts of organic anions excreted by all animals in this study were greater than the amounts of NH4+, HCO3-, or titratable acidity excreted. In addition, in response to acid and alkali loading, changes in urinary organic anion excretion were 40-50% as large as changes in net acid excretion. We conclude that, in rats, regulation of organic anion excretion can contribute importantly to the overall renal response to acid-base disturbances.

Pendrin in the mouse kidney is primarily regulated by Cl− excretion but also by systemic metabolic acidosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. C1658-C1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Hafner ◽  
Rosa Grimaldi ◽  
Paola Capuano ◽  
Giovambattista Capasso ◽  
Carsten A. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Acidosis ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Relative Number ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Acid Excretion ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Urinary Acidification ◽  
Apical Side ◽  
Acid Base Status ◽  
Net Acid Excretion

The Cl−/anion exchanger pendrin (SLC26A4) is expressed on the apical side of renal non-type A intercalated cells. The abundance of pendrin is reduced during metabolic acidosis induced by oral NH4Cl loading. More recently, it has been shown that pendrin expression is increased during conditions associated with decreased urinary Cl− excretion and decreased upon Cl− loading. Hence, it is unclear if pendrin regulation during NH4Cl-induced acidosis is primarily due the Cl− load or acidosis. Therefore, we treated mice to increase urinary acidification, induce metabolic acidosis, or provide an oral Cl− load and examined the systemic acid-base status, urinary acidification, urinary Cl− excretion, and pendrin abundance in the kidney. NaCl or NH4Cl increased urinary Cl− excretion, whereas (NH4)2SO4, Na2SO4, and acetazolamide treatments decreased urinary Cl− excretion. NH4Cl, (NH4)2SO4, and acetazolamide caused metabolic acidosis and stimulated urinary net acid excretion. Pendrin expression was reduced under NaCl, NH4Cl, and (NH4)2SO4 loading and increased with the other treatments. (NH4)2SO4 and acetazolamide treatments reduced the relative number of pendrin-expressing cells in the collecting duct. In a second series, animals were kept for 1 and 2 wk on a low-protein (20%) diet or a high-protein (50%) diet. The high-protein diet slightly increased urinary Cl− excretion and strongly stimulated net acid excretion but did not alter pendrin expression. Thus, pendrin expression is primarily correlated with urinary Cl− excretion but not blood Cl−. However, metabolic acidosis caused by acetazolamide or (NH4)2SO4 loading prevented the increase or even reduced pendrin expression despite low urinary Cl− excretion, suggesting an independent regulation by acid-base status.

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