Distal perfusion studies: transport stimulation by native tubule fluid

It is well established that potassium secretion into the distal tubule increases with the rate of flow. In a previous study [G. Malnic, R. W. Berliner, and G. Giebisch. Am. J. Physiol. 256 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 25): F932-F1271, 1989] we found that the increase with the rate of perfusion with a fluid made up to resemble that normally found in the early distal tubule was substantially less than the increase in free-flow conditions [R. N. Khuri, M. Wiederholt, N. Strieder, and G. Giebisch. Am. J. Physiol. 228: 1249-1261, 1975]. Because of the possibility that some important component was missing from the artificial fluid, we have carried out another series of experiments in which distal tubules were perfused with fluid collected from late proximal tubules and compared the results with those obtained when tubules were perfused with an artificial fluid with an electrolyte composition similar to that of late proximal fluid. When proximal tubule fluid was used, the potassium concentrations in the collected distal fluid were higher and better maintained with increasing flow than when the artificial fluid was used, and consequently the rate of potassium secretion was substantially greater with the proximal tubule fluid, approaching the results of previous studies in free flow. The nature of the component missing from the artificial solution is not known.