Renal excretion of allantoin in rats: a micropuncture and clearance study

Free-flow micropuncture and clearance studies were performed to evaluate the transport of allantoin inthe rat kidney. Inn all studies [2-14C]uric acid and [methoxy-3H]inulin were administered. With a two-step column chromatographic technique, radiolabeled uric acid and allantoin were separated in plasma, urine, and tubular fluid, and the [2-14C]allantoin concentration was determined. Tubular fluid collections were obtained under hydropenic and control coneated animals in the control and volume-expanded states. Clearance data were obtained in oxonic acid-treated animals under the same experimental conditions. These studies indicate that allantoin is not bound to plasma protein and is, therefore, freely filterable. Neither net reabsorption nor net secretion of allantoin was evident along the length of the nephron. The bubular handling of allantoin was demonstrated to be dissociated from that of uric acid in all experimental states. No significant intrarenal production of allantoin from uric acid was observed.