2,4-dinitrophenol stimulation of renal ammoniagenesis

The role of mitochondrial swelling in renal ammoniagenesis was studied by the administration of 10 mg.kg-1 2,4-dinitrophenol, in vivo, to normal and chronically acidotic rats. 2,4-Dinitrophenol increased ammonia excretion in in vivo and in vitro production from glutamine by renal cortical slices and isolated kidneys perfused with 1 mM L-glutamine. Ammonia production per glutamine molecule utilized rose towards 2, consistent with activation of the mitochondrial glutaminase-glutamate dehydrogenase pathway in 2,4-dinitrophenol-treated and acidotic rats. The rank order of 2,4-dinitrophenol stimulation of ammonia formation in vivo and in vitro was normal less than normal + 2,4-dinitrophenol less than acidotic less than acidotic + 2,4-dinitrophenol. 2,4-Dinitrophenol administration appears to enlarge the in situ proximal tubule mitochondrial population and to increase the number undergoing degradation, suggesting that mitochondrial alterations correlate with ammoniagenesis in vivo.