Effect of volume expansion on renal glucose transport in normal and uremic dogs

Proximal and distal tubule micropuncture studies were performed in normal and uremic remnant-kidney dogs to examine the tubule mechanism of glucose reabsorption before and after 10% extracellular volume expansion. In normal dogs volume expansion markedly inhibited glucose reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule, but the ensuing increase in further distal glucose delivery was nearly completely reabsorbed in the intermediate segment (between late proximal tubule and distal tubule). In the uremic, remnant-kidney dogs, glomerulotubular balance for glucose was well maintained in the proximal convoluted tubule despite an adaptive increase in nephron filtration rate. Volume expansion markedly increased glucose delivery out of the proximal convoluted tubule and an incomplete glucose reabsorption in the intermediate segment led to glycosuria. When glucose delivery to the intermediate segment was increased to a comparable degree by subthreshold glucose loading in hydropenic normal dogs, glucose reabsorption in this segment was virtually complete, suggesting that in the volume-expanded uremic dogs glucose reabsorptive capacity in the intermediate segment was reduced. Thus, the intermediate segment appears to play a significant role in the fine regulation of urinary glucose excretion.