Role of Kidney in Acid-base Balance

2012 ◽  
pp. 396-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudha Khanorkar
1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. F170-F176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Brown ◽  
R. K. Packer ◽  
M. A. Knepper

Bicarbonate is formed when organic anions are oxidized systemically. Therefore, changes in organic anion excretion can affect systemic acid-base balance. To assess the role of organic anions in urinary acid-base excretion, we measured urinary excretion in control rats, NaHCO3-loaded rats, and NH4Cl-loaded rats. Total organic anions were measured by the titration method of Van Slyke. As expected, NaHCO3 loading increased urine pH and decreased net acid excretion (NH4+ + titratable acid - HCO3-), whereas NH4Cl loading had the opposite effect. Organic anion excretion was increased in response to NaHCO3 loading and decreased in response to NH4Cl loading. We quantified the overall effect of organic ion plus inorganic buffer ion excretion on acid-base balance. The amounts of organic anions excreted by all animals in this study were greater than the amounts of NH4+, HCO3-, or titratable acidity excreted. In addition, in response to acid and alkali loading, changes in urinary organic anion excretion were 40-50% as large as changes in net acid excretion. We conclude that, in rats, regulation of organic anion excretion can contribute importantly to the overall renal response to acid-base disturbances.


1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (4) ◽  
pp. F696-F699
Author(s):  
T. Almdal ◽  
H. Vilstrup ◽  
K. Bjerrum ◽  
L. O. Kristensen

It has been suggested that urea synthesis participates directly in body pH homeostasis by removal of bicarbonate. To elucidate this hypothesis sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride was infused (11.5 mumol/min) for 90 min into control rats and into rats that had undergone an 85% hepatectomy immediately before starting the infusion. Urea synthesis rate was 2.6 +/- 0.3 mumol/min (mean +/- SE) in controls, and was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced to 1.0 +/- 0.2 mumol/min in partially hepatectomized rats. At the start of bicarbonate infusion, pH was 7.38 and 7.34 in control and partially hepatectomized rats, respectively, and at the end of infusion, pH was 7.56 and 7.51. Standard bicarbonate at start of bicarbonate infusion was 21.9 and 21.3 mM in controls and partially hepatectomized, respectively, and it increased to 32.7 and 29.9 mM at end of infusion. In saline-infused rats a slight decrease of approximately 0.05 pH units was observed during the experiment, but again no difference emerged between control and partially hepatectomized rats. It is concluded that a major role of the liver in the regulation of acid-base balance is unlikely.


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