A model of proximal tubular bicarbonate absorption

A model is presented that utilizes determinants of acidification defined from microperfusion studies in the rat to stimulate the effect on absolute bicarbonate absorption along the entire proximal convoluted tubule. Net bicarbonate absorption is considered to consist of active transcellular proton secretion in parallel with passive paracellular bicarbonate diffusion. The rate of proton secretion is calculated as a function of luminal bicarbonate concentration using Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The K1/2 is modified by luminal flow rate and the Vmax by peritubular bicarbonate concentration. Solute-solvent interactions and axial heterogeneity are also included as determinants of proton secretion rate. The model demonstrates that a given percentage stimulation or inhibition of active proton secretion leads to a much smaller effect on absolute proximal bicarbonate absorption along the entire tubular length. This blunting of the stimulation or inhibition is greatest when filtered bicarbonate load is limited by decreases in glomerular filtration rate or plasma bicarbonate concentration. In addition, the model shows that flow dependence is greater at low plasma bicarbonate concentrations, whereas the effect of extracellular fluid volume expansion is greater at high plasma bicarbonate concentrations. Agreement between the model predictions and the results of free-flow micropuncture studies from our laboratory is good with the exception of the effect of raising plasma bicarbonate concentration. This discrepancy is resolvable by allowing the effect of peritubular pH to increase along the length of the tubule, a hypothesis that requires verification.