In vivo proximal tubular fluid-to-plasma chloride concentration gradient in the rabbit

It has been reported that the concentration of chloride in the proximal tubule is greater than that in plasma in several mammalian species. Much of the theory concerning fluid and electrolyte reabsorption in the proximal tubule is based on data taken from in vitro isolated proximal tubules of the rabbit nephron. This study measured in vivo the rabbit proximal tubule fluid-to-ultrafiltrate chloride concentration ratio [(TF/UF)Cl] and its relationship to proximal tubule length as estimated by the tubule fluid-to-plasma inulin concentration ratio [(TF/P)In]. From six rabbits, 19 random proximal tubules were micropunctured and analyzed for inulin and chloride concentrations, the latter being measured by microelectrometric titration. Plasma ultrafiltrate was determined by correcting plasma chloride concentration for protein concentration. The average single nephron filtration rate was 20.2 +/- 0.8 nl/min. The (TF/UF)Cl ratio was 1.10 +/- 0.03, which was significantly different from unity. Furthermore, regression analysis yielded no significant correlation between the (TF/UF(Cl and (TF/P)In ratio. This study demonstrates that a tubule lumen-to-plasma chloride concentration gradient exists in the in vivo proximal tubule of the rabbit that is apparently established early and is not correlated with proximal tubule length.