Effects of Oxygen at High Pressure on the Transport of Potassium, Sodium and Alpha-Ketoglutarate in Guinea Pig Kidney Cortex

¹ From the Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland

Slices of guinea pig kidney cortex were incubated in a medium containing alpha-ketoglutarate, potassium, sodium, chloride, calcium and phosphate. After 90 minutes incubation at 37°C the potassium content of the slices diminished slightly when exposed to oxygen at a partial pressure of 1 atm. absolute. As the pressure of oxygen was raised above 2 atm. absolute, the potassium content of the slices increased over the control values by about 20% while the sodium content was decreased by a similar amount. At pressures exceeding 9 atm. absolute, the potassium content was reduced and concomitantly the sodium content was increased. Exposure of kidney slices to nitrogen at high pressure (5 atm. N₂ plus 1 atm. O₂) does not produce any changes in electrolyte content of the slices as compared with that of the slices exposed to 1 atm. of oxygen alone. Oxygen at high pressure does not appear to have any effect on the uptake of alpha-ketoglutarate from the medium by the slices.