The inulin space, solute concentrations, and weight changes in rat renal medullary slices incubated in iso-osmolal media, and their modification during anoxia and hypothermia.

1. The volume of distribution of [14-C]carboxyl inulin has been studied in slices of outer and inner medulla from rat kidney incubated in Krebs phosphate-bicarbonate Ringer, modified to render it iso-osmolal with the tissue fluids in these zones, under three conditions, (a) aerobically at 37 degrees C (control), (b) anoxically at 37 degrees C, and (c) aerobically at 0 degrees C. 2. Under control conditions near steady-state volumes of approximately 24 and 42 mul./100 mg wet weight slice were obtained for outer and inner medulla respectively during the period 10-30 min from the start of incubation. In the outer medulla the volumes of distribution in anoxic and hypothermic slices exceeded that in control slices during this time, but control values increased from 30 to 100 min so that after 100 min the distribution volumes were approximately 30 mul./100 mg under each set of conditions. 3. In the inner medulla control and anoxic slices had inulin distribution volumes of approximately 42 mul./100 mg during 10-30 min, rising to over 50 mul./u99 mg by 100 min. Slices incubated hypothermically reached a steady-state value of approximately 40 mul./100 mg by 30 min, which did not increase further for up to 100 min. 4. All slices lost about 10% of their initial weight during the first 3 min of incubation. Thereafter control slices maintained weight constancy for at least 30 min (outer medulla) or 100 min (inner medulla); slices incubated anoxically or hypothermically gained weight, the gains being greatest in anoxic outer and hypothermic inner medulla. 5. The K concentration within control slices (both zones), hypothermic outer and anoxic inner medulla attained equilibrium when slice [K] was approximately 8 times medium [K] (5-9 mM). In anoxic outer and hypothermic inner medullary slices [K] fell to a significantly greater extent, but interpretation of these findings in terms of slice K loss is subject to modification in respect of the increases in slice weight (water content) accompanying the [K] decreases. 6. There was a transient (1-3 min) rise in [Na] in all slices. This was followed by a [Na] decrease, which was most apparent in control slices, and finally a gradual increase towards medium [Na] (141 and 180 mM for outer and inner medulla respectively).