Oxygen consumption and active transport in separated renal tubules

Abstract

A method for the separation of intact viable cells from rabbit renal cortex has been developed. Separation is achieved by treatment of the excised kidney with the proteolytic enzyme collagenase. The resultant suspension consists principally of short lengths of proximal tubules. Survival of the tissues is indicated by maintenance of oxygen consumption, PAH uptake, and electrolyte composition. Since, in contrast to renal cortical slices, the cells in the tubule suspension are bathed directly by a solution of uniform composition, there is more rapid accumulation of PAH and a higher rate of oxygen consumption in this preparation than in slices. The technique affords a method for the direct measurement of fluxes across membranes of kidney cells.