Electrophysiology of salamander proximal tubule. II. Interspace NaCl concentrations and solute-coupled water transport.

The role of the paracellular interspace in solute-coupled water transport was investigated in isolated perfused salamander (Ambystoma) proximal tubules using a null-point technique to estimate interspace NaCl concentrations. Constant composition of luminal fluid was maintained by rapid (200 nl/min) perfusion of tubules 600,micron or less in length. Inhibition of active transport by a decrease in bath temperature from 22 to 0 degrees C in 400 ms produced rapid depolarizations of both the transepithelial (Vte) and basolateral (Vbl) potential, followed by slower changes in potential that occurred at low temperature. During this period, the time course of Vbl was independent of small changes in bath NaCl concentration, whereas the time course of Vte at low temperature varied from a slow depolarization to a slow repolarization depending on whether the concentration of NaCl in the bath equaled or exceeded that in the perfusate. Absence of a slow change in Vte at low temperature indicated a match between the NaCl concentration of the interspace and the test concentration of NaCl in the bath. Using this technique with 12 tubules, the normal interspace NaCl concentration appeared to be approximately 4% above the NaCl concentration of either the lumen or bath, demonstrating that the interspace of the salamander proximal tubule can function as a local hyperosmotic compartment to facilitate fluid transport between solutions of identical composition.