Urea and sodium in sheep kidneys during ethacrynic acid diuresis.

The possibility of uphill transport of urea from the collecting ducts of sheep fed diets containing 14% protein (HP) and 4.9% protein (LP) was explored by measuring cortex to papilla and urine to papilla gradients of urea during ethacrynic acid diuresis. Clearance studies were done on adult, unanesthetized, hydropenic, vasopressin infused sheep. Saline was given to compensate for urine loss during ethacrynic acid diuresis. Following a period of antidiuresis, ethacrynic acid administration caused and increase in fractional water excretion to 0.33 (HP) and 0.44 (LP), an increase in fractional sodium excretion to 0.28 (HP) and 0.41 (LP), and an average increase in glomerular filtration rate of 14.7%. Fractional potassium excretion showed no consistent change. Renal concentrating ability and medullary sodium accumulation were inhibited. Antidiuretic LP and HP medullary urea accumulation patterns were lost. However, identical but small ascending cortex to papilla urea gradients remained in the LP and HP animals. There was no significant difference between the urea concentration in urine and papilla tissue water. The results fail to provide support for the presence of active urea transport from the collecting ducts of sheep fed high or low protein diets.