Proximal and distal tubular function in salt-deprived and in salt-loaded deoxycorticosterone acetate-escaped rats.

Proximal and distal tubular function was compared with urinary excretion in rats after chronic administration of salt and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) or during salt deprivation. DOCA rats excreted significantly more sodium than did salt-deprived rats. Measurements of tubular fluid to plasma (TF/P) inulin ratios and concentrations of sodium and potassium in quantitative, timed collections, related to measured tubular length, allowed calculation of absolute reabsorption of fluid and ions in the different nephron segments. Proximal transport was not reduced in DOCA-treated rats compared with salt-deprived animals; in distal tubule the former group reabsorbed more sodium and secreted less potassium than the latter. Calculation of sodium transport in loop of Henle as the difference in flow between the end of the proximal convolution and the beginnings of the distal tubule indicated no inhibition of reabsorption in DOCA animals. Comparison of end-distal tubular flow with simultaneous urinary excretion suggested that sodium load was not the determining factor of enhanced natriuresis in DOCA-treated animals. The data are interpreted as indicating that DOCA-escape in the rat is associated with specific alteration of sodium transport in the collecting duct system.