The effect of sodium on p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport kinetics was studied in isolated rat kidney slices in an attempt to define the role of sodium ion in renal organic acid transport. 1. In normally metabolizing renal slices, Na+ increased the Vmax of PAH influx without changing the Michaelis constant (Km). On the other hand, the effIux of preaccumulated PAH was reduced as the Na+ concentration increased. 2. In metabolically impaired renal slices, Na+ had no apparent effect on the influx and efflux of PAH. These results may indicate that Na+ is important for the energy transducing reaction in the PAH transport process.
Aminohippuric Acids/metabolism* ; Animal ; Biological Transport, Active/drug effects ; Culture Media ; Female ; In Vitro ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Kinetics ; Male ; Organ Culture ; Rats ; Sodium/pharmacology* ; p-Aminohippuric Acid/metabolism*

Renal Na+, K+-activated adenosinetriphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) activity and the p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport kinetics were studied in uninephrectomized rats and cold exposed hamsters. In rats, the specific activity of renal Na-K-ATPase increased by approximately 50% in one week after uninephrectomy and remained more or less constant during the next three weeks. The capacity (Jmax) of PAH influx into the renal cortical slice was sharply increased in one week after nephrectomy, but after which it returned to the control level. In cold exposed hamsters, the specific activity of renal Na-K-ATPase did not increase until 48 days of cold exposure at which time it reached approximately 50% above the control level. On the other hand, the Jmax of PAH influx increased by about 80% in 10 days of co1d exposure and somewhat declined thereafter. These results suggest that PAH active transport in the renal slice is not ratelimited by the activity of Na-K-ATPase under physiological conditions.
Aminohippuric Acids/metabolism* ; Animal ; Biological Transport, Active ; Female ; Hamsters ; Hibernation ; Kidney/enzymology* ; Male ; Na(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase/metabolism* ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; p-Aminohippuric Acid/metabolism*