AJP - Renal Physiology, Vol 248, Issue 5 682-F687, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Effect of potassium depletion on chloride transport in the loop of Henle in the rat

R. G. Luke, B. B. Booker and J. H. Galla

Microperfusion of the superficial loop segment (latest proximal to earliest distal tubule) was performed in potassium-depleted and control rats. Potassium depletion was confirmed by analysis of muscle content (control 45 +/- 2, potassium depletion 33.5 +/- 0.9 meq/100 g dry solids). During perfusion at 20 nl/min net chloride absorption was decreased (66 +/- 3 vs. 77 +/- 2%, P less than 0.01) and early distal chloride concentration increased (70 +/- 5 vs. 50 +/- 4 meq/liter, P less than 0.01) in the potassium-depleted rats. In separate paired experiments in potassium-depleted rats, indomethacin infusion increased net chloride absorption (P less than 0.05) and lowered early distal chloride concentration (P less than 0.05) toward, but not to, normal. A similar effect of indomethacin to decrease early distal chloride concentration was seen in rats ingesting a normal diet and in control rats. We conclude that in potassium-depleted rats there is impaired net chloride absorption in the loop segment, most likely in the thick ascending limb, and that this effect is not produced by an altered response to prostaglandins. This defect in chloride transport may be responsible, at least in part, for the impaired concentrating capacity seen in potassium-depleted rats.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Wang, H. Sterling, W. A. Shao, Q. Yan, M. A. Bailey, G. Giebisch, and W.-H. Wang Inhibition of heme oxygenase decreases sodium and fluid absorption in the loop of Henle Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, September 1, 2003; 285(3): F484 - F490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]