Response of deep nephrons and the terminal collecting duct to a reduction in renal mass.

Juxtamedullary (JM) nephron and collecting duct function was studied after a two-thirds reduction in renal mass in the young rat. The glomerular filtration rate of JM nephrons was twofold greater in the remnant kidney (RK) group than in controls, but this increase was proportional to the increase measured in surface nephrons. Despite an increase in absolute reabsorption, delivery of sodium and water to the end of the proximal tubule of superficial nephrons and to the bend of Henle's loop of JM nephrons was increased. This was a consequence of an increase in filtered load and a decrease in fractional reabsorption. Potassium handling in surface nephrons was similar to that of sodium and water. In deep nephrons of the RK group, potassium delivery to the bend was increased as a consequence of increased filtered load. The terminal portion of the collecting duct has a role in this adaptive response to a reduction in renal mass. In rats with a RK, reabsorption of water occurred along this segment; however, when the amount reabsorbed was related to delivery, fractional water reabsorption was only 30% of controls. Changes in sodium handling were more profound. In the group with the RK, sodium reabsorption was not detectable along this segment. Thus, while 40% of delivered sodium was reabsorbed in controls, in the remnant kidney group the mean was not different from zero (-1.7%).