Distal site of action of parathyroid hormone on phosphate reabsorption

The sites of inhibited phosphate transport following administration of bovine parathyroid hormone (bPTH) to thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) dogs were investigated. Phosphate reabsorption by the proximal and distal nephron was studied using recollection micropuncture, stop-flow methodology, and electron-probe microanalysis. Following bPTH, delivery of phosphate from the proximal tubule increased from 26 to 37% of the filtered load, P less than .01. Fractional phosphate excretion increased from 2.3 +/- 1.5 to 21.4 +/- 2.3%, P less than .001. The increased delivery of phosphate at the point of micropuncture in the proximal tubule accounted for approximately half of the phosphaturia. In six TPTX dogs, which were saline loaded, similiar increases in phosphate delivery from the proximal tubule from 27 +/- 1 to 36 +/- 2% of the filtered load resulted in a strikingly smaller phosphaturia, 5.1 +/- 1 to 9.8 +/- 2.4%, NS. In stop-flow experiments, phosphate concentratin ratios were slightly increased in the proximal nephron and markedly increased in the distal nephron following bPTH. It is concluded that parathyroid hormone markedly decreases phosphate transport in the distal nephron.