Further studies of organic base secretion by rabbit proximal tubules

The aim of the present studies was to further characterize the mechanisms responsible for the secretion of the organic base procainamide by measuring [3H] procainamide transport in superficial (SF) and juxtamedullary (JM) S2 segments of rabbit proximal tubules perfused in vitro. When perfusate pH was changed from 7.4 to 6.2, procainamide secretion increased by 227% in SF and by 159% in JM tubules. In the presence of ouabain the acidic perfusate caused only a minimal increase in procainamide secretion. When the perfusate pH was increased, procainamide secretion was reduced. Acetazolamide, 10(-5) M in the bath, reduced procainamide secretion in both SF and JM tubules. In SF tubules amiloride, 10(-4) M in the perfusate, inhibited procainamide secretion, whereas nonradioactive procainamide, quinidine, and cimetidine did not. When ambient sodium was reduced to 10 mM, the rate of procainamide secretion was low and was not affected by amiloride in the perfusate or acetazolamide in the bath. Amiloride in the bath caused a dose-related inhibition of procainamide secretion. The rate of procainamide secretion by cortical collecting tubules was very low and was not affected by acetazolamide. The mechanisms of renal organic base secretion are complex. Some of the present data are consistent with a mechanism involving organic base-proton exchange across the apical cell membrane. However, other data are not consistent with this being the major mechanism involved.