Effect of acute thyroparathyroidectomy on nephron acidification

Abstract

The effect of the absence of parathyroid hormone on nephron acidification was determined in rats after acute thyroparathyroidectomy (TPTX). Tubular fluid samples were obtained from the superficial late proximal tubule (LPT), the early distal tubule ( EDT ), and along the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD), and the results were compared with those obtained from control rats. In the LPT after TPTX, pH was lower, 6.66 +/- 0.01 vs. 6.73 +/- 0.01, and ammonium and net acid delivery were increased significantly. In the EDT no differences in pH, bicarbonate, or net acid were found between groups, whereas ammonium and acid phosphate were significantly different. Along the IMCD in control rats, pH decreased from 6.58 to 5.21 and the addition of about 430 nmol/min of net acid was observed. After TPTX more net acid entered the duct and pH was lower, 5.66, but did not change; neither did the amount of bicarbonate, ammonium, acid phosphate, or net acid change significantly along the duct. Net acid excretion was not different, however, among groups. These results demonstrate that TPTX markedly affects nephron acidification, increasing net acid along the proximal tubule. In contrast to that in control rats, however, net acidification is completed prior to the IMCD. We conclude that the acute absence of parathyroid hormone may significantly affect local nephron acidification but does not alter acid excretion.