Interactions of starvation and selective phosphorus depletion on renal phosphate reabsorption

Renal phosphate (Pi) wastage following 7 days of starvation was investigated in normal rats (HI-P) and others previously stabilized on a low phosphorus (LO-P)diet. In LO-P animals, Pi excretion increased after starvation, but was significantly less than in starved HI-P rats. After thyroparathyroidectomy, the increase in Pi excretion after parathyroid hormone (PTH) was significantly greater in nonacidotic starved HI-P rats than in LO-P animals. However, PTH elicited a 31-fold increase in Pi excretion in both of these groups. Starved LO-P and HI-P rats responded equivalently to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The renal response to phosphate depletion normally promotes Pi conservation, but is attenuated markedly by 7 days of subsequent starvation. This results from at least partial restoration of phosphaturic responsiveness to PTH during starvation.