The effect of diffusible ions on the peritubular membrane potential of proximal tubular cells in perfused bullfrog kidneys.

Effects of extracellular diffusible ions, such as K+, Cl- and HCO3- (pH), on the peritubular membrane potential (EM) and intracellular activities of K+, (K)i, or Cl-, (Cl)i, were studied in the perfused proximal tubule of bullfrog kidneys with K+ or Cl- -selective microelectrodes. In steady-state conditions, in which both the peritubular and luminal sides were perfused with control Ringer solutions, the K+ equilibrium potential (EK) always exceeded the EM by approximately 19 mV and correlated well with the EM (correlation coefficient r = 0.78), whereas no correlation was recognized between the equilibrium potential of Cl-(ECl) and the EM. In the quick peritubular perfusion experiments, in which the extracellular diffusible ions were changed, the (K)i and (Cl)i were maintained relatively stable. The following facts were observed: (1) At constant EK, decreasing the peritubular chloride (Cl)e produced a small degree of hyperpolarization of the EM instead of depolarization. (2) At constant ECl, increasing the (K)e depolarized the EM. (3) At constant PCO2, the EM was depolarized with low HCO3- (acid) perfusions, while it was hyperpolarized with high HCO3- (alkaline) perfusions. These results are in agreement with the views that, 1) intracellular K+ in the proximal tubule is maintained by an uphill uptake mechanism on the peritubular cell membrane, (2) the ionic conductance of peritubular membrane is relatively high to K+, but low to Cl-, and (3) the pH gradient across the peritubular membrane can modulate the passive permeability to Na+ or K+.