AJP - Renal Physiology, Vol 249, Issue 2 308-F314, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Water and electrolyte transport in Henle's loop and distal tubule after renal sympathectomy in the rat
P. Bencsath, G. Szenasi and L. Takacs
The effect of acute renal denervation (AD) on transtubular movement of
water and electrolytes in Henle's loop (LH) and distal tubule (DT) of
superficial nephrons was studied by the technique of in vivo microperfusion
in Inactin-anesthetized hydropenic male rats. In time-control experiments
(n = 6) no changes in either whole kidney or single nephron function were
detected. Predenervation results of denervation experiments (n = 10) were
similar to those of the time-control series. AD resulted in increased
urine, sodium, and potassium excretion in the absence of changes of either
arterial blood pressure or GFR. Compared with predenervation data, AD led
to significant decreases in net transtubular fluxes (J) of water and sodium
in both perfused segments with delivery kept constant (delta JNa: LH = 144
+/- 26 peq X min-1, 9.1 +/- 0.3%; DT = 94 +/- 11 peq X min-1, 22.3 +/-
1.1%). Potassium absorption in the loop decreased but an increase in net
addition (secretion) of K in the distal tubule on denervation occurred
(delta JK = 8.7 +/- 1.9 peq X min-1, 68.7 +/- 3.2%). Use of the reperfusion
technique gave similar results. These results indicate that efferent renal
sympathetic nerve activity directly influences water, sodium, and potassium
transport in the loop of Henle and distal tubule of the anesthetized rat.
