Effects of Chlormerodrin, p-Chloromercuribenzoate and Dichlorphenamide on Renal Sodium Reabsorption and Oxygen Consumption

Abstract

We administered an organic mercurial diuretic compound, an organic mercurial non-diuretic compound and an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase to anesthetized dogs. Using conventional clearance methods, we measured renal plasma flow, filtration rate, sodium reabsorption and oxygen consumption. The mercurial diuretic compound blocked a fraction of both sodium reabsorption and oxygen consumption. The non-diuretic compound affected neither sodium reabsorption nor oxygen consumption. The inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase blocked the reabsorption of a fraction of the filtered sodium without affecting oxygen consumption. We conclude that (1) sodium chloride reabsorption is dependent upon oxidative metabolism for energy; (2) binding of renal cortical sulfhydryl compounds affects neither sodium transport nor oxidative metabolism; (3) the mechanism for sodium reabsorption by ion exchange is not dependent upon oxidative metabolism for energy.