A mathematical model of rat distal convoluted tubule. II. Potassium secretion along the connecting segment

A simulation of the rat distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is completed with a model of the late portion, or connecting tubule (CNT). This CNT model is developed by relying on a prior cortical collecting duct (CCD) model (Weinstein AM. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 280: F1072–F1092, 2001), and scaling up transport activity of the three cell types to a level appropriate for DCT. The major difference between the two tubule segments is the lower CNT water permeability. In early CNT the luminal solution is hypotonic, with a K+ concentration less than that of plasma, and it is predicted that osmotic equilibration requires the whole length of CNT, to end with a nearly isotonic fluid, whose K+ concentration is severalfold greater than plasma. With respect to potassium secretion, early CNT conditions are conducive to maximal fluxes, whereas late conditions require the capacity to transport against a steep electrochemical gradient. The parameter dependence for K+ secretion under each condition is different: maximal secretion depends on luminal membrane K+ permeability, but the limiting luminal K+ concentration does not. However, maximal secretion and the limiting gradient are both enhanced by greater Na+ reabsorption. While higher CNT water permeability depresses K+ secretion, it favors Na+ reabsorption. Thus in antidiuresis there is a trade-off between enhanced Na+-dependent K+ secretion and the attenuation of K+ secretion by slow flow. When the CNT model is configured in series with the early DCT, thiazide diuretics promote renal K+ wasting by shifting Na+ reabsorption from early DCT to CNT; they promote alkalosis by shifting the remaining early DCT Na+ reabsorption to Na+/H+ exchange. This full DCT is suitable for simulating the defects of hyperkalemic hypertension, but the model offers no suggestion of a tight junction abnormality that might contribute to the phenotype.

A mathematical model of rat cortical collecting duct: determinants of the transtubular potassium gradient

In assessing disorders of potassium excretion, urine composition is used to calculate the transtubular gradient (TTKG), as an estimate of tubule fluid concentration, at a point when the fluid was last isotonic to plasma, namely, within the cortical collecting duct (CCD). A mathematical model of the CCD has been developed, consisting of principal cells and α- and β-intercalated cells, and which includes Na+, K+, Cl−, HCO[Formula: see text], CO2, H2CO3, phosphate, ammonia, and urea. Parameters have been selected to achieve fluxes and permeabilities compatible with data obtained from perfusion studies of rat CCD under the influence of both antidiuretic hormone and mineralocorticoid. Both epithelial (flat sheet) and tubule models have been configured, and model calculations have focused on the determinants of the TTKG. Using the epithelial model, luminal K+ concentrations can be computed at which K+secretion ceases (0-flux equilibrium), and this luminal concentration derives from the magnitude of principal cell peritubular uptake of K+ via the Na-K-ATPase, relative to principal cell peritubular membrane K+ permeability. When the model is configured as a tubule and examined in the context of conditions in vivo, osmotic equilibration of luminal fluid produces a doubling of the initial K+ concentration, which, depending on delivered load, may be substantially greater than the zero-flux equilibrium value. Under such circumstances, the CCD will be a site for K+ reabsorption, although the relatively low permeability ensures that this reabsorptive flux is likely to be small. Osmotic equilibration may also raise luminal NH3 concentrations well above those in cortical blood. In this situation, diffusive reabsorption of NH3 provides a mechanism for base reclamation without the metabolic cost of active proton secretion.

Role of aquaporin water channels in pleural fluid dynamics

Continuous movement of fluid into and out of the pleural compartment occurs in normal chest physiology and in pathophysiological conditions associated with pleural effusions. RT-PCR screening and immunostaining revealed expression of water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in microvascular endothelia near the visceral and parietal pleura and in mesothelial cells in visceral pleura. Comparative physiological measurements were done on wild-type vs. AQP1 null mice. Osmotically driven water transport was measured in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated mice from the kinetics of pleural fluid osmolality after instillation of 0.25 ml of hypertonic or hypotonic fluid into the pleural space. Osmotic equilibration of pleural fluid was rapid in wild-type mice (50% equilibration in <2 min) and remarkably slowed by greater than fourfold in AQP1 null mice. Small amounts of AQP3 transcript were also detected in pleura by RT-PCR, but osmotic water transport was not decreased in AQP3 null mice. In spontaneously breathing mice, the clearance of isosmolar saline instilled in the pleural space (∼4 ml · kg−1· h−1) was not affected by AQP1 deletion. In a fluid overload model produced by intraperitoneal saline administration and renal artery ligation, the accumulation of pleural fluid (∼0.035 ml/h) and was not affected by AQP1 deletion. Finally, in a thiourea toxicity model of acute endothelial injury causing pleural effusions and lung interstitial edema, pleural fluid accumulation in the first 3 h (∼4 ml · kg−1· h−1) was not affected by AQP1 deletion. These results indicate rapid osmotic equilibration across the pleural surface that is facilitated by AQP1 water channels. However, AQP1 does not appear to play a role in clinically relevant mechanisms of pleural fluid accumulation or clearance.

Stimulation of duodenal motility by hyperosmolar mannitol depends on local osmoreceptor control

Duodenal motility is stimulated by hyperosmolar solution. Since intestinal distension also stimulates intestinal motility, this increase in the motility response may be due to either stimulation of duodenal local osmoreceptor control or intestinal distension resulting from osmotic equilibration. To test which mechanism is primarily responsible for this osmotically sensitive effect, we compared the number of duodenal spike bursts in five dogs equipped with duodenal fistulas that allowed for the preservation or removal of intestinal distension. The response to 300 vs. 1,200 mosM mannitol was compared under three experimental perfusion methods: 1) distension was preserved both proximal and distal to the fistula (DD); 2) distension proximal to the fistula was removed (rD); and 3) distension both proximal and distal to the fistula was removed (rr). The test solutions had access to either the whole gut (DD and rD) or only the first 10 cm of the duodenum (rr). We found that 1) there were more spike bursts after the hyperosmolar solution (dose effect, P < 0.05, analysis of variance); 2) there was no significant difference between the three experimental methods; and 3) the stimulating effect of hyperosmolar solution depended on the first 10 cm of the duodenum. Thus, since hyperosmolar solution increased duodenal motility regardless of whether intestinal distension was preserved or removed, the stimulating effect of hyperosmolar solution on duodenal motility was primarily the result of a local osmoreceptor control mechanism located in the first 10 cm of the duodenum.

Flow-dependent water permeability of the rabbit descending limb of Henle's loop

Because completely opposite results have been reported on the water permeability of the rabbit descending limbs of Henle's loop (DLH), we rigorously examined water permeability of the upper portion of the descending limb of the rabbit long-looped nephron. Even when the double-cannulation method was used in an attempt to reduce the resistance of tubular outflow, the collected fluid-to-perfusate inulin ratio was equal to or very close to the bathing fluid-to-perfusate osmolality ratio, indicating that osmotic equilibration occurred along the tubule by absorption of water. When perfusion rates were controlled by varying the height of the fluid reservoir connected to the perfusion pipette, osmotic (Pf) as well as diffusional (Pdw) water permeability was shown to be correlated with perfusion rate and/or perfusion pressure. Pf and Pdw at zero perfusion rate as determined from the values of the intercept of regression lines were 253 X 10(-3) and 4.54 X 10(-3) cm X s-1, respectively. The maximal values for Pf and Pdw were 737-1,098 X 10(-3) and 18.3 X 10(-3) cm X s-1, respectively. By changing the resistance to perfusion at the tubular outflow, it was shown that changes in Pf paralleled changes in perfusion rate rather than changes in perfusion pressure. Under stop-flow conditions the luminal fluid volume rapidly decreased after the osmolality of the bathing fluid was increased, suggesting that the segment is highly permeable to water even at zero flow rate. Reflection coefficients for urea and NaCl were 1.01 and 0.82, respectively. These data support the view that this segment is highly permeable to water and that increases in osmolality along the DLH in vivo may be accounted for mainly by abstraction of water rather than addition of solutes.

Stereospecific glucose transport across motor nerve terminal membrane: an electrophysiological study

Spontaneous transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction of the frog and rat was monitored during exposures to hyperosmotic solutions containing different sugars. Raising the osmolarity of the medium with D-glucose causes a marked, but transient, increase in the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs): after the initial elevation in frequency there is a subsequent decline towards the control levels, in spite of a continuous perfusion with the hyperosmotic solution. This decline occurs more rapidly in the frog. Two nonmetabolized analogues of glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-O-methylglucose, cause a transient hyperosmotic increase in MEPP frequency, which is very similar to the effect of D-glucose. The elevation of MEPP frequency with hyperosmotic glucose is stereospecific. Hyperosmotic solutions of L-glucose cause a sustained increase in transmitter release in the rat and frog. Insulin dramatically reduces the response of the frog nerve terminal to hyperosmotic D-glucose. Phenolphthalein, a glucose transport blocker, reduces or eliminates the secondary decline in MEPP frequency. It is suggested that the transient nature of the response to hyperosmotic solutions reflects the penetration of the hyperosmotic agent into the nerve terminal. The rate of decline of the MEPP frequency presumably indicates the rate of transport, which determines the rate of osmotic equilibration. This rate can then serve as an index of the relative permeability of the functioning presynaptic membrane to different sugars.

Brain and CSF water and ions during dilutional and isosmotic hyponatremia in the rat

Dilutional (DH) and isosmotic (IH) hyponatremia (plasma [Na+] = 103-109 meq/l) were produced in conscious rats over 3-6 h by intraperitoneal injection of water or mannitol Ringer solution. During DH, CSF [Na+], [Cl-], and osmolality decreased as predicted by passive dilution by the water load. During IH, these variables exhibited little change. Brain water was unchanged during IH despite significant reduction of brain Na+ and Cl- content suggesting that tissue ions lost were replaced by other osmoles. During DH, brain water increased but less than predicted by passive osmotic equilibration. Cell volume increased as predicted by passive swelling while the extracellular volume (Cl space) decreased. Tissue K+ content decreased by a small but significant amount. Tissue Na+ and Cl- decreased by 21 and 28%. This pattern of fluid compartmental and electrolyte changes suggests that brain volume regulation during acute DH occurs via reduction of extracellular volume as cells swell. This may result from bulk flow of extracellular fluid to CSF or from ion and water movement across the blood-brain barrier.

Fluid reabsorption by Necturus proximal tubule perfused with solutions of normal and reduced osmolarity

Fluid absorption in Necturus proximal tubule was studied when the kidneys were perfused with solutions of different osmolarities. The rate of fluid absorption was inversely proportional to the perfusion fluid osmolarity, while Na uptake remained constant. No difference was detected between the collected and injected luminal fluid, i. e. reabsorption was isotonic at normal and reduced osmolarities. The transtubular osmotic permeability remained fairly constant under the different per­fusion osmolarities. Using our experimental results to test various models based on osmotic equilibration across the tubule wall we show that none of these provides an adequate mechanism for fluid absorption in this epithelium.

Urinary concentrating ability during dehydration in the absence of vasopressin

Despite the apparent absence of vasopressin (ADH), Brattleboro homozygotes [diabetes insipidus (DI) rats] can concentrate their urine when deprived of drinking water. Since other investigators have shown that reducing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) improves the concentrating ability of water-loaded dogs, the present studies were undertaken to quantify the magnitude and time course of changes in GFR during dehydration. Clearance experiments were performed in 10 conscious DI rats before and following 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 24 h of dehydration. Urine osmolality increased from 155.0 +/- 12.6 (SE) to 696.7 +/- 8.4 mosmol/kg H2O after 24 h. GFR averaged 984.3 +/- 79.6 microliters . min-1 . 100 g body wt-1 in the control phase, fell to about 80% of this value over the first 12 h of dehydration, and then declined to 27% at 24 h. The rats lost 20% of their body weight over the 24 h. The osmolality of the papillary tip averaged 896 +/- 44 mosmol/kg H2O at 24 h compared to a control value of 493 +/- 28. The lack of osmotic equilibration between urine and papillary interstitium suggests that dehydration did not appreciably increase the water permeability of the distal nephron. These experiments clearly show a progressive decline in GFR as urine becomes concentrated during dehydration in the absence of ADH; these events may or may not be causally related.

Volume absorption in the pars recta. II. Hydraulic conductivity coefficient

We evaluated the hydraulic conductivity (Pf, micron s-1) of superficial proximal straight tubules isolated from rabbit kidney. Tubules were perfused with hypotonic (270 mosmol/kg H2O) and bathed with isotonic (290 mosmol/kg H2O) NaCl buffers at 25 degrees C. Due to the tendency of transepithelial osmosis plus solute entry to produce osmotic equilibrium along the perfused length, we observed that the total net volume absorption ('JV, nl min-1) increased from 0.64 to 2.21 when the perfusion rate (VO, nl min-1) was increased from 11 to 45 in a group of tubules with an average length of 0.86 mm. From a 'JV of 2.21 nl min-1 at VO = 45 nl min-1 we computed a minimum Pf of 2,200 micron s-1. And extrapolation of the data to VO leads to infinity gave a Pf value of 5,200-7,600 micron s-1. The same perfusion rate dependence of 'JV in a group of tubules with an average length of 3.29 mm gave quantitatively similar results. A theoretical analysis of radial osmosis occurring simultaneously with axial osmotic equilibration showed that Pf values in the range of 3,000-4,000 micron s-1 accurately predicted the observed relations between VO, 'JV, and tubule length.