Effects of formate and oxalate on chloride absorption in rat distal tubule

We previously demonstrated that formate and oxalate stimulate Cl-transport in the rat proximal tubule in accord with a model involving NaCl uptake across the luminal membrane via Cl-/organic anion exchange in parallel with Na+/H+ exchange and organic acid recycling. The purpose of the present study was to test whether similar mechanisms contribute to Cl- transport in the rat distal tubule. In distal tubules microperfused in situ with an isotonic solution, addition of 0.5 mM formate to the luminal perfusate increased Cl- (JCl) and fluid (Jv) absorption by 77 and 93%, respectively. Addition of 5 microM oxalate increased JCl and Jv by 52 and 108%, respectively. In distal tubules perfused with a hypotonic solution, formate stimulated JCl and Jv by 85 and 98%, respectively, and oxalate stimulated JCl and Jv by 80 and 115%, respectively. Addition of 0.5 mM acetate caused no significant change in JCl and Jv. The stimulation of JCl and Jv by formate was largely abolished by addition of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (100 microM) or ethylisopropyl-amiloride (10 microM) to the luminal perfusate. Chlorothiazide (0.5 mM) inhibited baseline JCl and Jv but caused no inhibition of the increments in Jv and JCl induced by formate. Formate stimulation of JCl and Jv was confined to early segments of the distal tubule. We conclude that formate and oxalate markedly enhance JCl and Jv in the early distal tubule by a thiazide-insensitive mechanism involving NaCl entry across the apical membrane by Cl-/organic anion exchange in parallel with Na+/H+ exchange.