Effect of renal denervation on free flow proximal tubular potential difference in the rat

Proximal transtubular potential difference (PD) was measured using the semi-microelectrode technique in control (C, n = 10) and unilaterally denervated (D, n = 10) rats. Acute renal sympathectomy resulted in a twofold and fourfold increase in diuresis and sodium excretion, respectively, with no change in GFR. PD (mean +/- S.E.M.) in the earliest accessible proximal convolutions (EPT) of group C was +/- 0.27 +/- 0.08 mV (n = 16), while in group D it was -0.16 +/- 0.07 mV (n = 18) (p less than 0.01). PD in mid (MPT) and late (LPT) proximal segments was unchanged by denervation (MPT: C = 0.94 +/- 0.05, n = 21; D = 0.98 +/- 0.04, n = ns. LPT: C = 1.04 +/- 0.11, n = 17; D = 0.95 +/- 0.06, n = 18 NS.). The shift to the negative of PD in EPT caused by denervation lends support to our earlier suggestion that active transport of solutes and organic substances is depressed by sympathectomy in the proximal tubule. The unaltered PD in MPT and LPT seems to indicate that passive forces promoting reabsorption in this part of the nephron are probably preserved.