Effects of phosphate and calcium infusion on renal phosphate transport in the dog

The effect of phosphate infusion on renal tubular handling of calcium and phosphate was examined in dogs which had been thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) immediately prior to the studies. Phosphate infusions in TPTX animals caused a small decrease in total and ultrafilterable plasma calcium, and decreased phosphate reabsorptive capacity in the proximal tubule and loop segment. Infusion of CaCl2 during phosphate loading to offset the fall in plasma calcium prevented the reduction in proximal phosphate reabsorptive capacity. However, between the proximal and distal sampling site, the reduction in phosphate reabsorptive capacity could not be prevented by CaCl2 administration. These data are consistent with the presence of two phosphate transport systems; one in the early proximal tubule, modulated by changes in plasma calcium level, and a second in the loop segment, which is independent of calcium. While the data suggest that the depression of proximal phosphate reabsorption during phosphate infusion may be secondary to the fall in plasma calcium concentration, they do not exclude a direct effect of infused phosphate on proximal phosphate reabsorption that may be antagonized by an opposing direct effect of the calcium infusion.