Ontogeny of cortical collecting duct sodium transport

The postnatal maturation of Na transport in the rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) was investigated. CCD segments from rabbits of three different age groups (3-9 days, 10-15 days, and 22-27 days) were perfused in vitro. Lumen-to-bath 22Na fluxes were 38.5 +/- 4.7, 17.0 +/- 2.9, and 30.2 +/- 4.0 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in the three groups, respectively. The high flux in the youngest group was explained by a high passive flux (28.3 +/- 4.2 pmol.mm-1.min-1) determined in the presence of ouabain; the passive 22Na flux in the two other groups (7.1 +/- 2.6 and 3.1 +/- 2.4 pmol.mm-1.min-1) was not significantly different from previously reported adult values. Ouabain-sensitive 22Na flux, reflecting active transport, was low in the two younger groups (10.3 +/- 2.5 and 9.9 +/- 1.9 pmol.mm-1.min-1), but exhibited a rapid increase to 27.1 +/- 2.6 pmol.mm-1.min-1 by 22-27 days of age. In vivo glucocorticoid pretreatment did not affect the Na transport in any age group. Mineralocorticoid pretreatment for 2 days had no effect in the two younger groups, but increased lumen-to-bath 22Na flux from 30.2 +/- 4.0 to 51.1 +/- 4.3 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in the 22- to 27-day-old group. The findings demonstrate that the maturation of rabbit CCD Na transport occurs in two stages, with the first consisting of a decrease in passive permeability during the first 2 wk of life, followed by an increase in active transport and simultaneous development of mineralocorticoid responsiveness.