Altered distribution pattern of Na+-K+-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities along the nephron in human acute post-transplant renal failure.

The catalytic activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase, marker enzymes for active salt reabsorptive capacity of renal basolateral plasma membranes and for respiratory capacity of mitochondrial cristae membranes, were studied in the maintenance phase of human acute post-transplant renal failure. Biopsies of 4 kidney-allografts taken at transplantation operation and additionally at different post-transplantation periods, either with good function or in various stages of dysfunction, were compared with the unaffected part of a human kidney nephrectomized due to hypernephroma. In single nephron segments, Na+-K+-ATPase activity was determined after microdissection by microfluorometry, and succinate dehydrogenase activity was determined by a microphotometric procedure in stained cryosections. In intraoperative and postoperative biopsies of a well-functioning allograft, both Na+-K+-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities did not differ from those of normal renal tissue. In contrast, the catalytic activities were found to be decreased in the distal tubules of 2 anuric allografts when compared with their intraoperative controls. In addition, succinate dehydrogenase activity was reduced in distal tubules of a recovering allograft. Catalytic activities appeared to be unaffected in glomeruli, proximal tubules, and collecting ducts. It is suggested that the predominant distal tubular alterations with regard to these parameters are a consequence of increased distal tubular vulnerability due to circulatory and metabolic conditions.