Effect of acute ureteral obstruction on terminal collecting duct function in the weanling rat

Micropuncture techniques were employed to evaluate the effects of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) of 18 h duration on the function of the terminal collecting duct in weanling rats 90-120 min following release of obstruction. In control animals and after release of UUO, water and sodium reabsorption continued along the terminal segment of the collecting duct. Fractional delivery of water (FRH2O) and sodium (FRNa) to this segment was increased after release of UUO. A significantly greater amount of the FRH2O and FRNa was reabsorbed along the terminal collecting duct following release of obstruction than in controls. Potassium was not consistently reabsorbed or secreted in either group. Following release of UUO, the osmolality of collecting duct fluid was lower than in controls, but was not different from the osmolality of fluid obtained from the bend of the loop of Henle. The results suggest that the permeability to water and the reabsorptive capacity of the collecting duct are not altered by acute obstruction.