Evidence for an osmotic effect of glucose in the in vivo rat proximal tubule.

A series of micropuncture experiments were performed to assess whether phlorizin inhibition of proximal tubular glucose reabsorption inhibits proximal tubular fluid reabsorption due to a change in the transepithelial osmotic gradient for glucose. End proximal tubular filtrate reabsorption was measured, control vs experimental, in the same rat. The effects of infusing phlorizin in one group were compared to those of graded small infusions of mannitol in a second group of rats. In the phlorizin series tubular fluid and peripheral plasma were analyzed for glucose. Net renal sodium and renal oxygen consumption were measured in these same rats. In the mannitol series tubular fluid and peripheral plasma mannitol concentrations were determined. The results show that phlorizin inhibits proximal tubular fluid and glucose reabsorption without changing renal oxygen consumption. Mannitol inhibits proximal fluid reabsorption per unit transepithelial concentration difference to the same extent as does glucose during phlorizin infusion. We interpret these data as most consistent with the conclusion that the reduction in proximal tubular fluid reabsorption during phlorizin infusion is primarily due to the resultant change in the effective transepithelial osmotic gradient for glucose. Normally this gradient favors net fluid reabsorption. During phlorizin it favors retention of fluid in the proximal tubular lumen.