Effect of luminal and peritubular HCO3(-) concentrations and PCO2 on HCO3(-) reabsorption in rabbit proximal convoluted tubules perfused in vitro.

The effect of luminal and peritubular HCO3(-) concentrations and PCO2 on HCO3(-) reabsorption was examined in rabbit proximal convoluted tubules perfused in vitro. Increasing luminal HCO3(-) concentration from 25 to 40 mM without changing either peritubular HCO3(-) concentration or PCO2, stimulated HCO3(-) reabsorption by 41%. When luminal HCO3(-) concentration was constant at 40 mM and peritubular HCO3(-) concentration was increased from 25 to 40 mM without changing peritubular PCO2, a 45% reduction in HCO3(-) reabsorption was observed. This inhibitory effect of increasing peritubular HCO3(-) concentration was reversed when peritubular pH was normalized by increasing PCO2. Passive permeability for HCO3(-) was also measured and found to be 1.09 +/- 0.17 X 10(-7) cm2 s-1. Using this value, the passive flux of HCO3(-) could be calculated. Only a small portion (less than 23%) of the observed changes in net HCO3(-) reabsorption can be explained by the passive HCO3(-) flux. We conclude that luminal and peritubular HCO3(-) concentrations after HCO3(-) reabsorption by changing the active H+ secretion rate. Analysis of these data suggest that both luminal and peritubular pH are major determinants of HCO3(-) reabsorption.