Acute metabolic acidosis augments collecting duct acidification rate in the rat

It is generally assumed that at least part of distal acidification occurs along the collecting duct. Complete and direct evaluation of acidification along this nephron segment is unavailable, however. The purpose of these experiments was to quantify the net acidification rate along the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) and to measure the effect of acute HCl acidosis. In 13 control rats (arterial pH, 7.39 +/- 0.01; PCO2, 39 +/- 1 mmHg) and 11 HCl-infused rats (arterial pH 7.18 +/- 0.01; PCO2, 40 +/- 1 mmHg) we obtained four to eight IMCD samples by a modified microcatheterization technique that also permitted measurement of in situ and in vitro pH. Tubular fluid pH decreased along the IMCD in both groups and was more acidic by 0.2-0.4 pH units in the acid-infused rats. Bicarbonate reabsorption was noted in both groups as delivery along the IMCD decreased from 205 +/- 127 to 26 +/- 6 nmol/min in control rats and from 219 +/- 118 to 17 +/- 4 nmol/min in the acidotic group. Ammonia delivery to and addition along the IMCD was significantly greater in the acidotic rats--from 193 +/- 59 to 462 +/- 53 nmol/min in control and from 887 +/- 126 to 1,396 +/- 90 nmol/min in acidotic rats. No significant change in total or titrated phosphate was seen. Net acid addition along the IMCD was over twice as great in acidotic rats, 450 vs. 970 nmol/min. Our results indicate that significant net acid addition occurs along the IMCD and that during acidosis this acidification rate increases.