Summary
In order to be able to examine the processes involved in transepithelial transport in tissues, which are not composed of a single cell type, methods are required, which permit analysis at a cellular level. The technique of electron microprobe analysis permits the intracellular concentrations of many elements to be determined simultaneously in various portions of the cell. The application of this method to renal cortical tissue has shown that the best estimates of the cytoplasmic concentrations are to be obtained in regions close to the nucleus, farthest from the basolateral infoldings and microvilli, which separate the intracellular environment from the extracellular space. The nuclear concentrations of Na and K do not differ from those in the surrounding cytoplasm, although those of P and C1 are somewhat higher in cytoplasm. The intracellular element concentrations in the different cell types vary somewhat, proximal tubular cells contain higher concentrations of Na and C1 and lower ones of P than distal tubular cells. Following ischaemia, a manoeuvre know to result in a disturbance of intracellular electrolytes, Na was observed to rise and K to fall only in the non-surface cells of kidneys exposed to the air, but in all cells, if the kidneys were kept air-free in an atmosphere of N2. The proximal and distal tubular cells showed a variable resistance to ischaemia, the distal tubular cells being much more resistant. Despite the severity of the electrolyte disturbance following ischaemia, the intracellular composition was completely restored one hour after re-introducing renal blood flow.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beck, F., Bauer, R., Mason, J., Dörge, A., Bauer, U., Rick, R., Thurau, K.: Electron microprobe analysis of intracellular elements in the rat kidney. Kidney Int. 1979 (submitted for publication)
Burg, M.B., Abramow, M.: Localization of tissue sodium and potassium compartments in rabbit renal cortex. Am. J. Physiol.211, 1011–1017 (1966)
Burg, M., Grantham, J., Abramow, M., Orloff, J.: Preparation and study of fragments of single rabbit nephrons. Am. J. Physiol.210, 1293–1298 (1966)
Dörge, A., Rick, R., Gehring, K., Thurau, K.: Preparation of freeze-dried cryosections for quantitative X-ray microanalysis of electrolytes in biological soft tissues. Pflügers Arch.373, 85–97 (1978)
Edelman, A., Curci, S., Samarzija, I., Frömter, E.: Determination of intracellular K+ activity in rat kidney proximal tubular cells. Pflügers Arch.378, 37–45 (1978)
Gehring, U., Rick, R., Dörge, A., Thurau, K.: unpublished data.
Grantham, J.J., Lowe, C.M., Dellasega, M., Cole, B.R.: Effect of hypotonic medium on K and Na content of proximal renal tubules. Am. J. Physiol.232, F42-F49 (1977)
Khuri, R.N., Agulian, S.K. Bogharian, K.: Electrochemical potentials of chloride in distal renal tubule of the rat. Am. J. Physiol.227, 1352–1355 (1974)
Khuri, R.N., Agulian, S.K., Bogharian, K.: Electrochemical potentials of potassium in proximal renal tubule of rat. Pflügers Arch.346, 319–326 (1974)
Khuri, R.N., Agulian, S.K., Kalloghlian, A.: Intracellular potassium in cells of the distal tubule. Pflügers Arch.335, 297–308 (1972)
Macknight, A.D.C.: The effect of ethacrynic acid on the electrolyte and water contents of rat renal cortical slices. Biochim. Biophys. Acta173, 223–233 (1969)
Maude, D.L.: Effects of K and ouabain on fluid transport and cell Na in proximal tubule in vitro. Am. J. Physiol.216, 1199–1206 (1969)
Palmer, L.G., Civan, M.M.: Distribution of Na+, K+ and Cl− between nucleus and cytoplasm in Chironomus salivary gland cells. J. Membr. Biol.33, 41–61 (1977)
Podevin, R.A., Boumendil-Podevin, E.F.: Effects of temperature, medium K+, ouabain and ethacrynic acid on transport of electrolytes and water by separated renal tubules. Biochim. Biophys. Acta282, 234–249 (1972)
Rick, R., Dörge, A., v. Arnim, E., Thurau, K.: Electron microprobe analysis of frog skin epithelium: Evidence for a syncytial sodium transport compartment. J. Membr. Biol.39, 313–331 (1978a)
Rick, R., Dörge, A., Macknight, A.D.C., Leaf, A., Thurau, K.: Electron microprobe analysis of the different epithelial cells of toad urinary bladder. J. Membr. Biol.39, 257–271 (1978b)
Schmidt, U., Guder, W.G.: Sites of enzyme activity along the nephron. Kidney Int.9, P 223–242 (1976)
Siebert, G., Langendorf, H.: Ionenhaushalt im Zellkern. Naturwissenschaften57, 119–124 (1970)
Whittembury, G.: Sodium extrusion and potassium uptake in guinea pig kidney cortex slices. J. Gen. Physiol.48, 699–717 (1965)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thurau, K., Dörge, A., Mason, J. et al. Intracellular elemental concentrations in renal tubular cells. An electron microprobe analysis. Klin Wochenschr 57, 993–999 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01479984
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01479984