The effect of chronic acid/base disturbances on renal amino acid clearances in the rat.

Since the few data available concerning the effect of acid/base disturbances on renal amino acid reabsorption were conflicting, and there were sound theoretical reasons for an effect, we have studied the clearance of endogenous amino acids in the rat in vivo under control conditions and after induction of either metabolic acidosis or alkalosis by administration of NH4Cl or NaHCO3, respectively. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed by examination of plasma and urinary levels of HCO3, Cl, Na and K. It was found that the renal clearance of amino acids, measured during acidosis or alkalosis, did not differ from those found under control conditions, the majority of values being less than 1% of the glomerular filtration rate. Thus, the amino acid reabsorptive mechanism appears unaffected by changes in the pH of the glomerular filtrate and/or by changes in tubular hydrogen ion secretion which would accompany such disturbances. These data are thus in agreement with findings during acidosis in man and in both acidosis and alkalosis in the dog. The findings are contrary to earlier reports from in vitro studies in the rat, and suggest the presence of severe functional impairment in the isolated perfused kidneys used in these earlier studies where very large changes in amino acid clearance were obtained.