Studies on Potassium Accumulation by Rabbit Kidney Slices: Effect of Metabolic Activity

Abstract

Thin slices of rabbit renal cortex lose and gain Na in K-free NaCl solns. K is reaccumulated from a low external concn. (10 meq/l.) during incubation in Warburg vessels under optimal conditions. Simultaneous measurements were made of K accumulation and O2 uptake with different exptl. variables, i.e,O2 tension, temp., pH, osmotic pressure, anions, external K concn., and the addition of substrates and cyanide. K uptake was dependent upon aerobic oxidation with no evidence of substrate specificity and occurred as a net exchange for Na. The exptl. system seems suitable for the study of the relationship of cellular metabolism to the active transport of strong electrolytes.