pH--dependence of phosphate absorption in rat renal proximal tubule

Proximal tubular cell membrane potentials were measured in rat kidney in vivo and the response to luminal perfusion of 2mmolar phosphate (Pi) was studied. Pi transport was preferentially rheogenic at low pH (cotransport of 1H2PO2- plus 2Na+) but preferentially electroneutral at high pH (cotransport of 1HPO4--plus 2Na+). The potential response as a function of pH conformed to a model which transports both H2PO4- and HPO4--indiscriminately and whose maximal transport capacity increases with increasing pH. Further kinetic experiments are required to definitely exclude separate transport systems for both ionised forms. Hypercapnic phosphaturia may be explained by a decreased maximal transport capacity of Pi at low luminal pH.