Stop-flow studies on tubular transport of uric acid in rats

A stop-flow technique using pyrazinoic acid(PZO)-treated and -untreated rats was devised to evaluate drug effects on bi-directional transport of uric acid in the tubules. Constant venous infusion of test drugs to PZO-untreated rats was used to estimate their inhibitory effects on urate secretion, while their inhibitory effects on urate reabsorption was studied by intravenous administration as a bolus to PZO-treated rats. Probenecid, tienilic acid and R-(+)-enantiomer of S-8666, which is the uricosuric component of a new uricosuric diuretic, decreased the (Tua/Pua)/(Tin/Pin) value in the distal and proximal tubules by inhibiting urate secretion in PZO-untreated rats. On the other hand, all of these drugs increased the (Tua/Pua)/(Tin/Pin) value in the tubules in PZO-treated rats, which suggested that they also inhibited the reabsorptive flux of urate. This stop-flow technique in rat kidneys showed the possibilities of bi-directional inhibition by these drugs of urate transport in the tubules.