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Comparison of transcellular and transepithelial water osmotic permeabilities (P os) in the isolated proximal straight tubule (PST) of the rabbit kidney

  • Transport Processes, Metabolism and Endocrinology; Kidney, Gastrointestinal Tract, and Exocrine Glands
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Abstract

Measurements of the water osmotic permeabilities of apical and basolateral membranes of PST cells and of the transepithelial permeability have been carried out using a very fast method with high temporal and spatial resolution. At 25°C the values obtained are: 80.8±11.9×10−4 cm3/s osmol cm2 of apical (luminal) surface area and 90.1 ±13.0×10−4 cm3/s osmol cm2 of basement membrane area (no membrane invaginations taken in account). These values are higher than previously published values due to the use of a faster and more accurate volume measuring and recording system. The transepithelial water osmotic permeability at 25°C is 77±11 in units of 10−4 cm3/s osmol cm2 basement membrane area. The transcellular water osmotic permeability is 32±7 (same units), leaving a paracellular contribution of 45±10 (same units). In the presence of 2.5 mM parachloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS) the apical permeability is reduced with an incubation of 10–15 min to 23% of its control value and the basolateral permeability to 8% of its control value (after 25 min) but the transepithelial permeability is only reduced to about 1/2 of the control value. This leaves a transcellular permeability of 6×10−4 cm3/s osmol cm2 of basement membrane area and a paracellular contribution of 33±6 (same units). These results indicate a significant contribution of the paracellular pathway to the transepithelial water osmotic permeabilities in PST.

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  1. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, IVIC, P.O. Box 21827, 1020 A, Caracas, Venezuela

    Paola Carpi-Medina & Guillermo Whittembury

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  1. Paola Carpi-Medina
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  2. Guillermo Whittembury
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Carpi-Medina, P., Whittembury, G. Comparison of transcellular and transepithelial water osmotic permeabilities (P os) in the isolated proximal straight tubule (PST) of the rabbit kidney. Pflugers Arch. 412, 66–74 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583732

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583732

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