Luminal pH in the amphibian distal tubule: effects of carbonic anhydrase and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

To better delineate acid-base transport properties in the distal tubule (DT) of Necturus in vivo, we 1) studied the effects of peritubular (pt) isohydric increase of PCO2 and [HCO3-]pt on luminal pH (pHlu), and 2) measured the steady-state pHlu under various experimental conditions. The experiments were carried out on initial (DTi) or distal (DTd) loops of the DT in control state and then during intravenous infusion of carbonic anhydrase (CA) or CA inhibitors (CAI). In control state, isohydric increase of PCO2 and [HCO3-]pt results in transient acidification of the DTi lumen, whereas in DTd lumen the same maneuver yields sustained (plateau) acidification. Under systemic infusion of CAI, isohydric increase of PCO2 and [HCO3-]pt lowers pHlu (sustained fall of pHlu) in DTi and DTd, whereas under CA infusion both segments exhibit only transient acidification. During intravenous infusion with benzolamide DTi steady-state pHlu falls, suggesting that this maneuver inhibits a functional luminal CA, in contrast to the DTd, whose pHlu remains unaltered. Intravenous infusion of CA significantly increases steady-state DTd pHlu; by contrast, steady-state pHlu in DTi does not change. These data are consistent with the presence of functional luminal CA in the DTi, whereas the DTd segment lacks the luminal enzyme.