Increased reabsorptive capacity after ureteral obstruction reduces the ability of glucose to inhibit phosphate reabsorption in rat kidney.

BACKGROUND

Proximal tubular reabsorption of glucose (G), phosphate (Pi) and amino acids is energized by the transmembrane Na+ gradient, which explains why decreased concentration of one solute can enhance the transport of another. Accordingly, we postulated that the consistent increase in Pi reabsorption seen in the post-obstructed kidney (POK) could be caused, in part, by the low filtered load of glucose and reversed by glucose loading.

METHODS

Renal function was examined before and after i.v. glucose loading in POKs (after release of 24 h of unilateral ureteral obstruction) and control kidneys (CK) of 10 adult rats. Brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) transports of Pi and glucose were assessed in POKs and CKs.

RESULTS

In POKs GFR, urine flow and Na+ excretion were significantly reduced and tubular reabsorption of both Pi (T(P)/GFR) and glucose (TG/GFR) were significantly increased: T(P)/GFR, 2.0 +/- 0.2 vs 1.36 +/- 0.1; TmG/GFR, 23.4 +/- 1.7 vs 18.9 +/- 1.1 mmol/l. Glucose loading inhibited T(P)/GFR only in the CK. Initial Na+ gradient-dependent uptakes of D-glucose and Pi were similar in BBMVs from POK and CK.

CONCLUSIONS

The increases in T(P)/GFR and TG/GFR seen in the POK do not result from decreased glucose delivery or from alterations in BBM Pi and glucose transporters. The reduced ability of glucose to inhibit Pi reabsorption in the POK results primarily from a generalized increase in proximal tubular reabsorption of Na+ and cotransported Pi and glucose. A specific rise in distal Pi transport capacity may be an additional adaptive response to the low filtered load of Pi in the POK. In addition, absent distal glucose reabsorption may further facilitate Pi reclamation at these sites.