Capillary transport of H2 gas generated locally in renal tissue

Previous measurements by microspheres have shown a higher blood flow in outer cortex and a lower blood flow in inner cortex than found by diffusible tracers. During vasodilation microspheres have indicated a disproportionate increase in deep cortical blood flow, whereas diffusible tracer distributions remained unchanged. These discrepancies could possibly be explained by a variable net inward transport of diffusible tracers in postglomerular vessels, the transport existing in control, but disappearing during vasodilation. To test this hypothesis H2 gas was produced electrolytically for 1 s at a platinum electrode in midcortex and the resulting gas concentration curve measured polarographically at two electrodes placed above and below the source. Analysis of a mathematical model showed that the ratio of the curve maxima at the two electrodes (Cmo/Cmi) would best reveal a radial net transport. Average Cmo/Cmi at 25 positions in 7 clamped dog kidneys was close to unity, but rose to 1.24 at control flow. During acetylcholine infusion Cmo/Cmi rose to 1.68. Local washout rates at the two electrodes increased equally. Calculations indicated a small outwardly directed net transport in control (3 X 10(-4) cm/s), becoming slightly reinforced during vasodilation (5 X 10(-4) cm/s). Thus the control transport direction is opposite to the hypothesis, and the change during vasodilation was estimated to be too small to explain the disparity between diffusible tracer uptake and microsphere distribution in control. H2 concentration maximum was obtained earlier under control flow than in the clamped kidney, indicating an increase in apparent D of the gas in tissue from 3 X 10(-5) cm2/s to 5 X 10(-5) cm2/s, probably due to mixing of H2 gas in the capillary net work.