Filtered bicarbonate and plasma pH as determinants of renal bicarbonate reabsorption

To examine if bicarbonate reabsorption varies with filtered bicarbonate and plasma pH, we infused anesthetized dogs i.v. with sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate to alter plasma bicarbonate concentration (PHCO3) without changing hematocrit. Examinations in five dogs over a wide range of glomerular filtration rates (GFR) during ethacrynic acid infusion showed that bicarbonate reabsorption at equal filtered load and equal plasma pH of 7.5 was not significantly changed by increasing PHCO3 from 30.2 +/- 0.4 to 55.2 +/- 0.6 mM and PCO2 from 33.8 +/- 0.7 to 74.1 +/- 2.1 mm Hg. Examinations during respiratory and metabolic alkalosis in five dogs at plasma pH of 7.8 showed that bicarbonate reabsorption at equal filtered load was not significantly different at a PCO2 of 20.2 +/- 0.8 and 36.8 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. Finally, in five dogs that did not receive ethacrynic acid, plasma pH was lowered by inducing respiratory acidosis at a PHCO3 of 30 mM and raised during progressive respiratory and metabolic alkalosis, Bicarbonate reabsorption was linearly related to plasma pH within the range 7.1 to 7.85 (r = 0.92). By altering plasma pH by 0.1 unit, bicarbonate reabsorption was altered by 10 +/- 1%. Thus, filtered bicarbonate rather than GFR and plasma pH rather than PCO2 are important acute regulators of bicarbonate reabsorption. This regulation may be achieved by determining pH and bicarbonate concentration in the luminal fluid along the proximal tubules.