Altered physiological status and [Na] and [K] in intracellular particulates of rat kidney

¹ Department of Physiology, Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

The effects of adrenalectomy, ethanol and aldosterone have been studied on the [Na] and [K] in intracellular particulates prepared from the kidneys of rats on varied sodium intake. The microsome has the highest intracellular concentration of sodium and is the site of marked, independent changes in response to ethanol, aldosterone and high sodium intake. These changes are limited primarily to sodium and potassium ions not readily eluted from this fraction in aqueous solution. Adrenalectomy decreases the [Na] and [K] in all cellular fractions. This change is inhibited by saline supplementation after adrenalectomy. Aldosterone selectively increases the [Na] of the microsome fraction, an effect contrary to that of ethanol. Increased sodium intake in the intact animal blocks the response to ethanol and, in the adrenalectomized animal, the response to aldosterone. Saline supplementation causes a selective increase in microsomal [K], an effect unrelated to adrenalectomy, ethanol or aldosterone. The conclusion suggested is that the microsome fraction is related to renal cellular electrolyte metabolism although the nature of this relationship is obscure.