Changes in kidney medullary phospholipid metabolism in the potassium-depleted rat. II.

In vivo studies of renal medullary phospholipid (PL) turnover in control, potassium (K)-depleted, and K-repleted rats have been performed following intravenous administration of radioactive glycerol. These studies show an identity in turnover of the PL-glycerol moiety derived from medulla of normal and depleted animals. This turnover identity supports the idea that increased PL synthesis is the cause of the PL accumulation occurring with K depletion. In K repletion, PL-glycerol turnover increases while tissue PL levels decline, indicating that accelerated PL breakdown removes the PL which had accumulated within renal medullary cells of K-depleted animals.