Maturation of the renal response to hypertonic sodium chloride loading in rats: micropuncture and clearance studies.

1. The ability of maturing rats to excrete a sodium load was studied by micropuncture and clearance procedures. 2. During control conditions, no change of glomerular filtration rate or sodium excretion was observed for the time period of the entire procedure (P greater than 0-20). During the infusion of hypertonic (4%) sodium chloride, fractional sodium excretion was 0-08 +/- 0-01 in rats 21-30 days old and 0-14 +/- 0-01 (P less than 0-01) in adults. However, the depression of proximal tubular water re-absorption was equal in both groups (P greater than 0-20). 3. Proximal glomerulotubular balance for water re-absorption was similar in all groups (P less than 0-20). Since end proximal tubular water excretion and depression of fractional water excretion were the same in all animals, differences of urinary sodium excretion during development are probably due to differences of function of segments beyond the proximal tubule during development. 4. Fractional potassium excretion was reduced in young rats (0-17 +/- 0-04) during hypertonic sodium chloride infusion, compared to adults (0-24 +/- 0-01, P less than 0-05). 5. Passage time of fast green through cortical segments in seconds is prolonged in young rats during control conditions. Similar decreases of passage time were seen in all groups during hypertonic sodium chloride infusion. No segmental differences of passage time were seen during developmental. 6. No difference in the relationship between fractional sodium and water excretion was seen during development of the renal response to hypertonic sodium chloride infusion. Thus, altered sensitivity to sodium chloride osmotic diuresis does not exist during maturation in rats.