Developmental changes in the tubular capacity for phosphate reabsorption in the rat

The need for young, immature animals to maintain positive phosphate balance for growth is well known. However, whether this process involves changes in the intrinsic capacity of the kidney to reabsorb phosphate is not clear. In the present study, the maximum capacity of phosphate reabsorption [Max RPi/glomerular filtration rate (GFR)] was measured in four groups of rats at different stages of development, from weanling to adulthood (3-4, 5-6, 10-14, and 52 wk of age). Clearance experiments were performed in acutely thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats in the presence and absence of fixed levels of parathyroid hormone (synthetic PTH-(1-34), 1 U.kg-1.min-1). Max RPi/GFR was determined with progressive infusions of phosphate (0-6 mumol Pi/min) that raised the filtered load of phosphate. Max RPi/GFR in TPTX 3- to 4- and 5- to 6-wk-old rats (5.55 +/- 0.36 and 4.28 +/- 0.18 mumol/ml, respectively) was significantly greater than in the corresponding 52-wk-old rats (3.51 +/- 0.13 mumol/ml, P less than 0.05). PTH decreased the Max RPi/GFR in all age groups. However, the developmental pattern was maintained, with the highest levels present in the youngest rats (2.79 +/- 0.25 mumol/ml, P less than 0.05) compared with the other age groups (1.92 +/- 0.23, 1.35 +/- 0.11, and 1.15 +/- 0.13 mumol/ml for 5- to 6-, 10- to 14-, and 52-wk-old rats, respectively). These results demonstrate that the tubular capacity for phosphate reabsorption per milliliter GFR is enhanced in immature rats and progressively decreases with age. This PTH-independent adaptation in young rats may contribute to the renal retention of phosphate during growth.