Urate excretion by the isolated perfused rat kidney and modification by drugs

Urate excretion in the isolated perfused rat kidney was studied over a wide range of perfusate urate concentrations (13.9-376.8 microM). Fractional excretion of urate (FEurate) averaged 57.9 +/- 2.0% (range, 58.5-59.6%), showed marked interanimal variability, but was not dependent on the perfusate-free urate concentration. In paired experiments, the effects of five drugs (probenecid, pyrazinoate, furosemide, salicylate, and oxonate) on FEurate were evaluated. A low concentration of pyrazinoate (0.2 mM) decreased FEurate (62.0 +/- 1.9 vs 53.8 +/- 2.4%, P less than 0.05), as did 0.8 mM pyrazinoate (59.5 +/- 2.4 vs 48.4 +/- 2.7%, P less than 0.05). Probenecid (1 mM) decreased FEurate (59.3 +/- 3.1 vs 52.0 +/- 2.5%, P less than 0.05) but 2.5 mM probenecid did not alter FEurate (48.0 +/- 6.3 vs 47.8 +/- 6.9%). Oxonate (0.1 mM) also decreased FEurate (75.8 +/- 4.2 vs 67.1 +/- 2.1%, P less than 0.05) while 0.2 mM oxonate had no effect (66.4 +/- 3.5 vs 61.5 +/- 4.6%). Neither salicylate nor furosemide affected FEurate, although both drugs caused a saliuresis and diuresis. Thus, urate transport in rat kidneys in vitro is not dependent on urate concentration, unlike man. Some drugs known to affect urate excretion in humans and rats did not have similar effects in isolated kidneys. Isolated organ studies provide additional information is understanding renal urate handling.