The effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on bicarbonate reabsorption

Renal reabsorption of bicarbonate was studied in Merino ewes during carbonic anhydrase inhibition. Bicarbonate reabsorption was directly proportional to plasma bicarbonate concentration. No tubular maximum for bicarbonate was demonstrated. Elevation of arterial PCO2 or depression of arterial pH caused slight increases in bicarbonate reabsorption. The data suggest that bicarbonate is reabsorbed by 2 distinct processes. The quantitatively more significant process may involve ionic reabsorption of bicarbonate secondary to Na+ reabsorption and a relatively minor part of bicarbonate reabsorption may be secondary to H+ secretion.