Effect of adrenalectomy on transport in the rat medullary thick ascending limb.
Previous studies in adrenalectomized (Adx) rats suggest that aldosterone may regulate ion transport in the ascending portion of Helen's loop. In order to examine directly the effect of adrenalectomy on transport, medullary thick ascending limb (Mtal) segments were isolated from Adx, Adx replaced with aldosterone (Adx + Ald, 0.5 micrograms X 100 g X body wt X d), and control Sprague-Dawley rats. Both net sodium and net chloride fluxes were significantly less in the Mtal segments from Adx rats compared with those in the control or Adx + Ald group. Physiologic levels of exogenous aldosterone increased net sodium chloride flux toward control values in the Adx + Ald group. Net potassium flux was not different among the three groups. We conclude that adrenalectomy impairs reabsorptive NaCl but not K transport in the Mtal, and that aldosterone restores this process. This reabsorptive defect may contribute to the urinary concentrating and diluting abnormality associated with adrenal insufficiency.
Work
J
J
Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35294.
Jamison
R L
RL
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000378:metabolism*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D008138:Loop of Henle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism
D002712:Chlorides; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium