Effect of phosphate deprivation on phosphate reabsorption in rat nephron: role of PTH

The sites of enhanced phosphate (PO4) reabsorption after PO4 deprivation were investigated before and after infusion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in acutely thyroparathyroidectomized rats. Animals were fed either a control PO4 diet (1.6% P) or a low PO4 diet (0.025% P) for 2 days or 7-10 days. In control rats, PTH decreased PO4 reabsorption in the proximal tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convolution. PO4 reabsorption in the proximal tubule was enhanced after 2 days of PO4 deprivation. In this group, proximal PO4 reabsorption was decreased by PTH but remained greater than in control rats (70 +/- 6 vs. 45 +/- 6 pmol/min; P less than 0.025). After PTH, PO4 reabsorption increased in the loop of Henle from 3 +/- 0.5 to 13 +/- 2 pmol/min (P less than 0.005), whereas it was unaltered in the distal convolution in PO4-deprived rats. PTH markedly increased fractional excretion of PO4 in control rats but not in PO4-deprived rats. After prolonged PO4 deprivation, PO4 reabsorption along the nephron was unaltered by PTH. These results demonstrate that acute PO4 deprivation enhances PO4 reabsorption in the proximal tubule, although the phosphaturic effect of PTH in this segment is not abolished. Resistance to the inhibitory effect of PTH on PO4 reabsorption in some portion of the loop of Henle and possibly also in the distal convolution accounts for the absence of a significant phosphaturic effect of the hormone in acutely PO4-deprived rats. Prolongation of PO4 deprivation results in unresponsiveness to PTH extending to the proximal tubule.