Stimulation of renal tubular transport by ethacrynic acid in rats of different ages.

The transport system for organic acids in the kidney is not fully developed in the neonatal period. The effect of repeated administrations of ethacrynic acid on the renal excretion of p-aminohippurate (PAH) was studied in rats of different ages. Pretreatment with ethacrynic acid was followed by an increase in the renal excretion of PAH in 33-, 55-, 105- and 240-day-old rats but not in newborn rats. In 55-day-old rats the increase in renal excretion of PAH after pretreatment with ethacrynic acid was not associated with any consistent change of the glomerular filtration rate. It is concluded from these results that the stimulation of transport processes in the kidney by ethacrynic acid and some other drugs is linked with their affinity to tissue proteins.