Biochemical characterization and osmolytes in papillary collecting ducts from pig and dog kidneys

Papillary collecting duct tubules were prepared in gram quantities from the papillae of dog and pig kidneys. Measurements of substrate and oxygen utilizations by these tubules under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions showed the potential for both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Oxygen is not necessary to maintain a normal adenosine 5'-triphosphate concentration, but oxidative phosphorylation contributes to more than 65% of the metabolism under aerobic conditions in the two species. Both phosphorus-31 and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra recorded from extracts of dog cortex, red medulla, and papilla showed a clear gradient from cortex to papilla for osmolytes, such as glycerophosphorylcholine, sorbitol, inositol, betaine, and sugar phosphates. Other molecules identified in the spectra included glucose, sorbitol, mannitol, lactate, glutamine, alanine, threonine, and adenosine 5'-triphosphate. Conventional biochemical measurements supported these findings. An increase in osmolality from 300 to 600 mosmol/kg H2O for 120 min did not increase the glycerophosphorylcholine and sorbitol concentrations of dog papillary collecting ducts in vitro, but a small effect of a 24-h dehydration was detected in vivo.