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Chapter: Basic & Clinical Pharmacology : Diuretic Agents

Proximal Tubule - Renal Tubule Transport Mechanisms

Proximal Tubule - Renal Tubule Transport Mechanisms
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium chloride (NaCl), glu-cose, amino acids, and other organic solutes are reabsorbed via specific transport systems in the early proximal tubule (proximal convoluted tubule, PCT).

RENAL TUBULE TRANSPORT MECHANISMS

PROXIMAL TUBULE

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium chloride (NaCl), glu-cose, amino acids, and other organic solutes are reabsorbed via specific transport systems in the early proximal tubule (proximal convoluted tubule, PCT). Potassium ions (K+) are reabsorbed via the paracellular pathway. Water is reabsorbed passively, maintain-ing the osmolality of proximal tubular fluid at a nearly constant level. As tubule fluid is processed along the length of the proximal tubule, the luminal concentrations of these solutes decrease rela-tive to the concentration of inulin, an experimental marker that is filtered but neither secreted nor absorbed by renal tubules. Approximately 66% of filtered sodium ions (Na+), 85% of the NaHCO3, 65% of the K+, 60% of the water, and virtually all of the filtered glucose and amino acids are reabsorbed in the proxi-mal tubule.


Of the various solutes reabsorbed in the proximal tubule, the most relevant to diuretic action are NaHCO3 and NaCl. Of the currently available diuretics, only one group (carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, which block NaHCO3 reabsorption) acts predomi-nantly in the PCT. In view of the large quantity of NaCl absorbed in this segment, a drug that specifically blocked proximal tubular absorption of NaCl could be a particularly powerful diuretic. Adenosine receptor antagonists, which are currently under intense clinical investigation, act mainly in the PCT and appear to induce a NaCl, rather than a NaHCO3 diuresis. Sodium bicarbonate reabsorption by the PCT is initiated by the action of a Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE3) located in the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule epithelial cell (Figure 15–2). This transport sys-tem allows Na+ to enter the cell from the tubular lumen in exchange for a proton (H+) from inside the cell. As in all portions of the nephron, Na+/K+-ATPase in the basolateral membrane pumps the reabsorbed Na+ into the interstitium so as to maintain a low intracellular Na+ concentration. The H+ secreted into the lumen combines with bicarbonate (HCO3) to form H2CO3 (car-bonic acid), which is rapidly dehydrated to CO2 and H2O by carbonic anhydrase. Carbon dioxide produced by dehydration of H2CO3 enters the proximal tubule cell by simple diffusion where it is then rehydrated back to H2CO3, also facilitated by intracel-lular carbonic anhydrase. After dissociation of H2CO3, the H+ is available for transport by the Na+/H+ exchanger, and the HCO3 is transported out of the cell by a basolateral membrane trans-porter (Figure 15–2). Bicarbonate reabsorption by the proximal tubule is thus dependent on carbonic anhydrase activity. This enzyme can be inhibited by acetazolamide and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.


Adenosine, which is released as a result of hypoxia and ATP consumption, is a molecule with four different receptors and com-plex effects on Na+ transport in several segments of the nephron. Although it reduces glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to decrease energy consumption by the kidney, adenosine actually increases proximal reabsorption of Na+ via stimulation of NHE3 activity. A new class of drugs, the adenosine A1-receptor antagonists, have recently been found to significantly blunt both proximal tubule NHE3 activity and collecting duct NaCl reabsorption, and to have potent vasomotor effects in the renal microvasculature (, under Autacoids, Pharmacology of Diuretic Agents, and under Heart Failure).


Because HCO3 and organic solutes have been largely removed from the tubular fluid in the late proximal tubule, the residual luminal fluid contains predominantly NaCl. Under these condi-tions, Na+ reabsorption continues, but the H + secreted by the Na+/H+ exchanger can no longer bind to HCO3. Free H+ causes luminal pH to fall, activating a poorly defined Cl/base exchanger (Figure 15–2). The net effect of parallel Na+/H+ exchange and Cl/base exchange is NaCl reabsorption. As yet, there are no diuretic agents that are known to act on this conjoint process.

Water is reabsorbed in the PCT in response to osmotic forces, so luminal fluid osmolality remains nearly constant along its length, and an impermeant solute like inulin rises in concentra-tion as water is reabsorbed. If large amounts of an impermeant solute such as mannitol (an osmotic diuretic) are present in the tubular fluid, water reabsorption causes the concentration of the solute to rise, so that as salt concentrations become diminished further, water reabsorption is prevented.

Organic acid secretory systems are located in the middle third of the straight part of the proximal tubule (S2 segment). These systems secrete a variety of organic acids (uric acid, nonsteroidal anti-inflam-matory drugs [NSAIDs], diuretics, antibiotics, etc) into the luminal fluid from the blood. These systems thus help deliver diuretics to the luminal side of the tubule, where most of them act. Organic base secretory systems (creatinine, choline, etc) are also present, in the early (S1) and middle (S2) segments of the proximal tubule.


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