Na+-H+ exchange in luminal-membrane vesicles from rabbit proximal convoluted and straight tubules in response to metabolic acidosis.

Na+-H+-exchanger activity of pars convoluta and pars recta luminal-membrane vesicles prepared from the proximal tubule of acidotic and control rabbits were assayed by a rapid-filtration technique and an Acridine Orange method. Both experimental approaches revealed the existence of an antiporter, sensitive to metabolic acidosis, in pars convoluta membrane vesicles. Kinetic data, obtained with the pH-sensitive dye, showed that the Km for Na+ transport was unchanged by acidosis, whereas Vmax. for exchanger activity was increased, on an average, by 44%. The fluorescence method, in contrast with the rapid-filtration technique, was able to detect exchanger activity in pars recta membrane vesicles. The Km value for the antiporter located in pars recta is comparable with that calculated for pars convoluta membrane vesicles. By contrast, the Vmax. of this exchanger is only about 25% of that found for pars convoluta. Furthermore, metabolic acidosis apparently does not increase Na+-H+-exchanger activity of pars recta luminal-membrane vesicles.