Effect of potassium depletion and protein intake in vivo on renal tubular bicarbonate transport in vitro.

These studies evaluated the effect of decreased dietary potassium and increased dietary protein content in rabbits on systemic acid-base parameters, urine pH, and segmental renal tubular bicarbonate handling in vitro. Animals fed a potassium-deficient high-protein diet (KD) for 2 wk developed metabolic acidosis (arterial blood pH 7.31 vs. 7.43) and excreted a more acid urine than control animals fed a diet with normal amounts of potassium and protein; whereas, animals fed the same potassium deficient diet to which supplemental potassium was added (KD + K+) excreted an even more acid urine and had a blood pH of 7.36. In superficial proximal convoluted and straight tubules, there were no differences in rates of fluid and total CO2 absorption between control and KD tubules. Cortical collecting tubules obtained from KD and KD + K+ animals absorbed, and control tubules secreted total CO2 in vitro. With an ambient potassium concentration of 2.5 mM, collecting tubules obtained from the inner stripe of the outer medulla of KD animals absorbed significantly less total CO2 than control tubules. The same tendency was observed in collecting tubules from the outer stripe of the outer medulla. Plasma aldosterone levels fell with development of potassium depletion. Administration of deoxycorticosterone for 1 day to KD animals was associated with a lower urine pH and higher arterial blood pH than in untreated KD animals and with increased total CO2 absorption by both cortical collecting tubules and tubules from the inner stripe of the outer medulla.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)