Distal tubular tracer microinjection study of renal tubular potassium transport

Renal tubular potassium (K) transfer was studied in rats using a tracer microinjection technique in which [14C]inulin and 42K were simultaneously injected into early distal tubules during osmotic diuresis. Experiments were carried out in 1) animals on a control diet, 2) animals in which K secretion had been stimulated (high-K diet + KC1, Na2SO4, Diamox infusions), and 3) animals in which K excretion had been reduced by a low-K or low-Na diet or by amiloride. 42K excretion into the urine coincided closely in time with the excretion pattern of [14C]inulin. Efflux of 42K out of the lumen was stimulated during reduced K secretion along the distal nephron and decreased during enhanced K secretion when small tubular K loads were given. These experiments demonstrate bidirectional K movement across the distal nephron and show that changes in reabsorptive K efflux participate in the regulation of tubular net K movement.