Cell and luminal activities of chloride, potassium, sodium and protons in the late distal tubule of Necturus kidney.

1. Double-barrelled (selective vs. conventional) microelectrodes were used to assess the steady-state activities (a) of the ions Cl-, K+, Na+ and H+ in peritubular blood capillaries (abld) and in cell (acell) and lumen (alum) of the late distal tubule (l.d.t.) of Necturus. 2. a(cell)cl, a(lum)cl and a(bld)cl were 5.5 +/- 0.3, 11.8 +/- 1.0 and 70.5 +/- 0.1 mM, respectively. They were used to compute the chemical potentials for Cl- across the three diffusive barriers of the tissue. Basolateral and apical membrane potentials were -74.3 +/- 1.1 and -60.1 +/- 2.0 mV, respectively (cell negative); the lumen was thus negative with respect to blood, by 13.6 +/- 1.5 mV. The electrochemical potential difference (e.p.d.) for Cl- of 42 mV across the apical membrane opposes Cl- absorption, implying active apical Cl- uptake, since Cl- is known to be absorbed in the l.d.t. Basolateral Cl- exit is favoured by an e.p.d. of 10 mV. 3. a(cell)K, a(lum)K and a(bld)K were 65.8 +/- 0.8, 2.5 +/- 0.1 and 2.5 +/- 0.1 mm, respectively. The electrochemical distribution of K+ indicates that K+ absorption, if present, proceeds against an adverse apical e.p.d. of 18 mV. Basolateral K+ distribution is close to its electrochemical equilibrium, suggesting high K+ permeability at this membrane. 4. a(cell)Na was 9.0 +/- 0.4 mM, a(bld)Na 71.0 +/- 0.3 mM, and a(lum)Na was approximated at about 9 mM. Diffusive Na+ entry from lumen to cell is favoured by an e.p.d. close to 65 mV. Basolateral Na+ exit must be active, since it proceeds against an e.p.d. of 130 mV. 5. Cell, luminal and blood pH were 7.14 +/- 0.03, 6.52 +/- 0.08 and 7.37 +/- 0.04, respectively. The luminal electrochemical potential of H+ is higher than that of cell (by 91 mV) and blood (by 34 mV) indicating that proton secretion into the lumen must be active. 6. The e.p.d. of each ion across the epithelium opposes, by its orientation, the established direction of net transepithelial ion transport, suggesting that the shunt pathway may serve only for back-diffusion.