Renal excretion of rubidium and potassium: an electron microprobe and clearance study

A combination of clearance and electron microprobe studies was carried out to investigate renal rubidium excretion and rubidium distribution between plasma and individual tubule cells. Saline-infused animals were compared with potassium-loaded rats and another group in which rubidium was given in such amounts that the sum of plasma rubidium plus potassium equalled the potassium concentration in the potassium-loaded rats. The renal clearance of rubidium was uniformly less than that of potassium. Nevertheless, rubidium stimulated fractional potassium excretion above the levels observed in both saline- and potassium-loaded animals. When compared with their plasma concentrations, rubidium was concentrated in all tubule cell types more than potassium, and this is most likely due to restriction of passive diffusion of rubidium from cells to extracellular fluid. In addition, heterogeneity of intercalated cell ion composition was observed: one cell group had high chloride and potassium, but low rubidium contents, whereas the other was characterized by low chloride and potassium, but high rubidium contents.