Tracer Studies in the Rat Demonstrate Misdirected Filtration and Peritubular Filtrate Spreading in Nephrons with Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

In two genetic models of “classic” focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), the Milan normotensive and the Fawn-hooded hypertensive rats, tracer studies were performed to test the hypothesis that misdirected glomerular filtration and peritubular filtrate spreading are relevant mechanisms that contribute to nephron degeneration in this disease. Two exogenous tracers, lissamine green and horse spleen ferritin, were administered by intravenous injection and subsequently traced histologically in serial kidney sections. In contrast to control rats, both tracers in kidneys of Milan normotensive and Fawn-hooded hypertensive rats with established FSGS were found to accumulate extracellularly at the following sites: (1) within tuft adhesions to Bowman's capsule and associated paraglomerular spaces, (2) at the glomerulotubular junction contained within extensions of the paraglomerular spaces onto the tubule, and (3) within subepithelial peritubular spaces eventually encircling the entire proximal convolution of an affected nephron. This distribution strongly suggests the existence of misdirected filtration into tuft adhesions to Bowman's capsule and subsequent spreading of the filtrate around the entire circumference of a glomerulus and, alongside the glomerulotubular junction, onto the outer aspect of the corresponding tubule. This leads to an interstitial response that consists of the formation of a barrier of sheet-like fibroblast processes around the affected nephron, which confines the filtrate spreading and, subsequently, the destructive process to the affected nephron. No evidence was found that either misdirected filtration and peritubular filtrate spreading themselves or the associated tubulo-interstitial process led to the transfer of the injury from an affected nephron to an unaffected nephron. It is concluded that in the context of FSGS development, misdirected filtration and peritubular filtrate spreading are important damaging mechanisms that underlie the extension of glomerular injury to the corresponding tubulointerstitium, thus leading finally to degeneration of both the glomerulus and the tubule of a severely injured nephron.

d-Serine is reabsorbed in rat renal pars recta

d-Serine normally contributes up to 3% to total plasma serine and up to 23% in chronic renal failure. d-Serine is metabolized by tubular d-amino acid oxidase (D-AAO), and highd-serine plasma levels are nephrotoxic; both events are localized in the straight part of the proximal tubule. We therefore investigated if and howd-serine is reabsorbed there. We microinfused14C-labeledd- or -l-serine + [3H]inulin into early proximal (EP), late proximal (LP), or early distal (ED) tubule sections of superficial nephrons and into long loops of Henle (LLH) of rats in vivo and in situ. The fractional reabsorption (FR) of the14C label was determined from the14C:3H ratio in the final urine. At 0.36 mM, FR ofd-[14C]serine was 86% (EP), 90% (LP), and ≈0 (ED, LLH). FR ofd-serine could be saturated and inhibited by l-serine (and vice versa). d-methionine, but notd-glutamate ord-arginine, blocked FR ofd-serine (LP). We conlude that filtered d-serine is able to enter the pars recta cells, thereby getting access to D-AAO. The uptake carrier has a very low stereospecificity and is, therefore, different from that in the proximal convolution. The colocalization of exclusive reabsorption and metabolism makes the pars recta the tubule site for the recycling of the carbon structure of d-amino acids and, at the same time, the target ofd-serine nephrotoxicity.

Taurine reabsorption by a carrier interacting with furosemide in short and long Henle's loops of rat nephrons

Taurine is net reabsorbed in the proximal convolution by Cl- -stimulated Na+ symport specific for beta-amino acids but not in later nephron segments. However, large unidirectional taurine transport takes place there. To investigate unidirectional taurine reabsorption, we comicroinfused [3H]taurine and [14C]inulin into late proximal (LP), early distal (ED), and late distal (LD) tubule segments, as well as into the tips of long loops of Henle (LLH) of rats in vivo, and determined fractional reabsorption of [3H]taurine (FR) in the ipsilateral urine. FR (9 micromol/l taurine) was 80-93 (LP), 16 (ED), and 8% (LD). At 26 mmol/l taurine, FR decreased to 13 (LP) and 6% (ED). FR also decreased when Na+ or Cl- was absent or furosemide (5 x 10(-5) mol/l) was added. Bumetanide (5 x 10(-5) mol/l) had no effect, whereas aniline-2-sulfonic acid (ASA) inhibited. During LLH microinfusion, FR was 55% at 66 micromol/l and 17% at 228 micromol/l and was again inhibited by furosemide and ASA but not by bumetanide. [14C]taurine reabsorption from microperfused proximal convolutions was not influenced by furosemide. Chronic water diuresis did not affect taurine reabsorption in short Henle's loops. We conclude that taurine can enter cells of the distal nephron from the lumen by an Na+- and partly Cl- -dependent carrier with which C alpha,beta-substituted taurine (ASA) and C alpha,beta- and N-substituted beta-alanine (furosemide) directly interact. Thus proximal and distal taurine carriers seem to be different.

In vivo demonstration of glomerular PGE2 responses to physiological manipulations and experimental agents

Experiments were carried out in rats to determine whether prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesized in vivo by individual glomeruli could be measured in fluid obtained from early proximal tubule convolutions. A newly developed nonradioactive enzyme-linked immunoassay for PGE2, capable of measuring 0.1- to 0.25-pg quantities, made this approach feasible. In salt-deprived rats, recollection micropuncture samples were obtained from the earliest proximal convolution [tubular fluid-to-plasma insulin ratio (TF/PIn) 1.13] for measurement of PGE2, and then single-nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR). PGE2 was also measured in serum ultrafiltrate, and theoretical maximum "filtered" PGE2 was calculated for each nephron. This was compared with the measured PGE2 from the same nephron. Indomethacin was then given to inhibit cyclooxygenase. We found that measured PGE2 in early proximal fluid (TF) was higher than could be attributed to glomerular filtration. Indomethacin markedly decreased measured PGE2 in early TF. Administration of probenecid, to block tubular transport of PGE2, did not alter the observations. In chronically salt-loaded rats early TF PGE2 was significantly less compared with the salt-deprived rats. Intrarenal infusion of a nonpressor dose of angiotensin II (ANG II) doubled PGE2 appearance in early TF samples. We conclude from these observations that PGE2 in early TF is derived in part from the glomerulus. In the intact rat, glomerular PGE2 synthesis is higher after salt deprivation than after salt loading, inhibited by indomethacin, and stimulated by ANG II. This new approach will allow evaluation of the role of in vivo glomerular PGE2 production in various pathophysiological conditions.