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This paper provides the results of experiments intended to assess the mechanism responsible for the suppression of net salt absorption and the attendant spontaneous voltage (Ve, mV) that occurs when isolated thick ascending limbs of Henle (TAL) are exposed to a hypertonic environment. In isolated mouse medullary (MTAL) and cortical (CTAL) segments, as well as in rabbit MTAL segments, increases in peritubular osmolality with urea produced a graded suppression of Ve. This effect was evaluated in further detail in isolated mouse MTAL segments, where 600 mM peritubular urea produced a reversible reduction in Ve and a reversible reduction in the transcellular electrical conductance (Gc; mS.cm-2). There was no detectable effect on the paracellular conductance (Gs; mS.cm-2). Simultaneously, 600 mM peritubular urea also produced hyperpolarization of the voltage across basolateral membranes (mV). Moreover, 600 mM peritubular urea produced virtually the same magnitude reduction in Gc either in the absence or presence of 10(-4) M luminal furosemide. Thus we conclude that peritubular urea hypertonicity directly suppresses the Cl- conductance of basolateral membranes (mS.cm-2).

As a consequence of its ability to absorb salt in excess of water, the thick ascending limb of the mammalian kidney dilutes the urine and supplies the energy for counter current multiplication. This latter effect follows directly from the ability of the medullary thick ascending limb (mTALH) to enrich medullary osmolality. In this review, we consider certain selected aspects of mTALH function that determine its ability to dilute the urine and to contribute to overall renal concentrating power. Specifically, we shall review the mechanisms for salt absorption in the mTALH and the modulation of salt absorption in the mTALH and hence urinary concentrating power, by antidiuretic hormone (ADH), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and peritubular hypertonicity. Furthermore, we shall advance an explanation of how these latter three agents modulate mTALH function without affecting external salt balance.

This paper considers the quantitative interplay of various factors in modulating diluting power of in vitro medullary and cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle (MTAL and CTAL, respectively) segments from mouse and rabbit. Experimentally, the measured diluting power of the in vitro rabbit CTAL is greater than that of the rabbit MTAL, although the inherent rate of net Cl- absorption at high perfusion rates is considerably greater in the rabbit MTAL than in the rabbit CTAL. Similar results apply when comparing the rabbit CTAL to the mouse MTAL exposed to antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Our calculations show that, in the rabbit CTAL, the measured static head luminal salt concentration can be accounted for quantitatively by the measured rate of net salt absorption at a high perfusion rate together with the passive permeability coefficients for Na+ and Cl-. Moreover, with perfusion rates of 10% of single-nephron glomerular filtration rate, the transport properties of the CTAL predict that, at the end of the CTAL, the static head luminal Cl- concentration occurs if the initial perfusate contains either 50 or 150 mM Cl-. Thus one can argue that, in vivo the CTAL may be the cardinal determinant of the TAL contribution to diluting power and to external salt balance. The relatively blunted diluting power of in vitro MTAL segments can be accounted for quantitatively by assuming that luminal dilution, and the attendant osmotic gradient from lumen to cell, suppresses the inherent rate of transcellular Cl- transport. Our calculations also show that prostaglandin E2 and peritubular osmolality increases blunt tubular diluting power. Thus in vivo, the MTAL segment may be the cardinal determinant of TAL contribution to concentrating power and to intrarenal salt balance.

These studies were designed to evaluate the mechanism for the ADH-dependent increase in transcellular conductance (Gc, mS X cm-2), which accompanies hormone-dependent increases in the spontaneous transepithelial voltage (Ve, mV) and in the net rate of Cl- absorption in single medullary thick ascending limbs of Henle (mTALH) isolated from mouse kidney. The total transepithelial conductance (Ge, mS X cm-2) was measured with perfusing solutions containing 5 mM K+, zero Ba2+; Gc was that component of Ge blocked by luminal 20 mM Ba2+, zero K+. In paired experiments, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) increased Gc from 44.5 +/- 5.6 to 58.9 +/- 8.9 mS X cm-2 (delta = 14.3 +/- 5.5; P less than 0.02); however, in the presence of 10(-4) M luminal furosemide, ADH had no significant effect on Gc (delta = 5.0 +/- 4.3; NS). A set of similarly paired measurements together with paired observations on the effects of bath Cl- deletion, permitted an assessment of the effect of ADH on the magnitude of the fall in Gc on bath Cl- removal (delta GClc, mS X cm-2). delta GClc was clearly larger with ADH, 29.6 +/- 4.3, than without ADH, 19.2 +/- 1.0 (delta = 10.4 +/- 4.9; P less than 0.05). However, with luminal furosemide, ADH had no significant effect on delta GClc (delta = 1.7 +/- 4.5; NS). These results indicate that the ADH-dependent increase in Gc is secondary to increased salt entry across the apical membrane. We computed apical (ga, mS X cm-2) and basolateral (gb, mS X cm-2) membrane conductances from the Gc measurements and apical-to-basolateral membrane resistance ratios (Ra/Rb) obtained from cell impalement: the ADH-dependent Gc increase was due to an increase in gb, which was blocked entirely by luminal furosemide. We propose that ADH increases the number of functioning apical membrane Na+,K+,2Cl- transport units, and that gb increases because cell Cl- activity rises and depolarizes the basolateral membrane. Thus the calculated cellular Cl- activity was 16.3 mM without ADH, and 25 mM with ADH.