Effect of amino acids on renal tubular bicarbonate reabsorption by the rat kidney.

This study shows that L-arginine, a dibasic amino acid, which decreases in proximal convoluted tubule HCO3 transport, does not inhibit renal Na+/K+ ATPase activity or O2 consumption in vitro. Thus, a mechanism(s) other than inhibition of Na+/K ATPase likely accounts for the inhibitory effect of dibasic aminoacids on HCO3 transport in the superficial proximal convoluted tubule. Neutral and acid aminoacids, unlike dibasic aminoacids, do not inhibit HCO3 transport in this nephron segment.