Effect of Phlorhizin on Renal Glucose and Phosphate Transport in the Dog

Abstract

1. Clearance and micropuncture studies were performed in 19 thyroparathyroidectomized dogs to examine the inter-relationship between the renal transport of sodium, glucose and phosphate. 2. All experiments were carried out before and after the intravenous administration of phlorhizin [7 mg (15 μmol)/kg] with a sustaining infusion of the same dose/h. Thirteen dogs were studied during hydropenia (group I) and six dogs in the volume-expanded state (group II). 3. In the proximal tubule, phlorhizin significantly reduced sodium reabsorption in hydropenic dogs, but had no effect in volume-expanded dogs. Proximal tubular glucose reabsorption was completely inhibited by phlorhizin in both groups, but no significant change in phosphate reabsorption was observed. 4. Fractional glucose excretion in the urine reached 83–89% after phlorhizin, values significantly less than 100%, suggesting a residual reabsorption of glucose in a more distal segment or in deep nephrons. The changes in fractional excretion of sodium and phosphate were significantly correlated. 5. The effect of phlorhizin on both sodium and glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule in hydropenic dogs suggests the existence of a co-transport mechanism, whereas the absence of an effect on sodium transport in volume-expanded dogs despite complete inhibition of glucose reabsorption indicates the existence of a sodium-independent component of net proximal tubular glucose transport. 6. Absence of the effect of phlorhizin on proximal tubular phosphate transport in the face of a significant reduction in sodium reabsorption implies that the reciprocal relationship between glucose and phosphate transport could be masked by the changes in sodium transport. Thus the sodium-phosphate transport relationship may prevail over that of glucose-phosphate in the proximal tubule.