Tracer Na fluxes in Necturus proximal tubule

Steady-state bidirectional sodium fluxes were measured across Necturus proximal tubules. New methods for capillary perfusion and collection of venous effluent enabled flux determination to be made from the appearance of luminal tracer in the capillaries. Fluxes and permeability were measured in the absence of net fluid reabsorption. The sodium permeability measured in the plasma-to-lumen direction was 3 X 10(-6) cm/s. The flux ratio (lumen-to-plasma/plasma-to-lumen) was about twice the passive value calculated from the measured concentrations and potentials. Estimates for the permeability and flux across the shunt pathway were obtained from nonsteady-state flux determinations. The shunt pathway appeared to be the most significant route for passive sodium movement from plasma-to-lumen. Nonsteady-state tracer measurements also enabled an estimate to be made of the lumenal cell membrane permeability and unidirectional sodium flux. Two-thirds of the lumen-to-plasma flux was calculated to traverse the cellular path and the remainder through the shunt. Approximately one-third of the intracellular sodium was found to exchange rapidly with tracer.