Ammonia production by individual segments of the rat nephron

D. W. Good, M. B. Burg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ammonia production was measured directly in 10 segments of the rat nephron to determine the relative importance of the segments as sites of renal ammonia production. Tubules were microdissected from normal rats and rats drinking 0.28 M NH4Cl or 0.28 M NaHCO3 for 3-8 d. The segments were incubated in vitro with and without 2 mM glutamine. Ammonia concentrations in the incubation fluid were measured by microfluorometry to determine ammonia production rates. All segments produced ammonia from glutamine. In normal rats, production with glutamine was highest (>5 pmol/min per mm) in the proximal convoluted (S-1), proximal straight (S-3), and distal convoluted tubules, and lowest (≤2) in cortical and medullary collecting ducts and thin descending limbs. Metabolic acidosis increased production by 60% in the S-1 segment of the proximal convoluted tubule and by 150% in the S-2 segment of the proximal straight tubule without significant effect in any other segment. Bicarbonate loading decreased production by S-1 but had no effect on S-2 or S-3. Thus, acid-base changes altered production only in specific segments of the proximal tubule. We infer that the bulk of ammonia production occurs in the proximal tubules and that production by collecting ducts can account for only a few percent of renal ammonia production and excretion in the rat.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)602-610
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume73
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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